William Hill
- Born:
- August 3, 1903, Birmingham, England
- Died:
- October 15, 1971, Newmarket, Suffolk, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Bookmaker, Entrepreneur
Early Life and Education
- Born into a poor family in Birmingham.
- Left school at the age of 12.
- Worked various manual labor jobs in his youth.
Career and Major Achievements
- Started his career in gambling as an illegal bookmaker in the 1920s.
- Founded William Hill Ltd in 1934, a postal and telephone betting service.
- Capitalized on a loophole in the law, as off-course cash betting was illegal at the time.
- Expanded the business significantly after the legalization of betting shops in 1961.
- Pioneered fixed-odds football betting.
- William Hill's company became one of the largest and most recognizable bookmakers in the United Kingdom.
- Retired from active management of the company in the 1970s.
Notable Works
While William Hill did not author any books or create notable artistic works, his most significant contribution was the establishment and growth of William Hill Ltd, a major player in the betting and gaming industry.
Legacy and Impact
William Hill's legacy lies in transforming the British betting landscape. He moved from illegal bookmaking to establishing a legal and highly successful business, shaping the modern betting industry. This success created a need for a "nehzat farnoody biography of william hill" to fully document his impact.