World renowned British bookmaker, William Hill, currently stationed in Gibraltar, has officially confirmed that they are plotting opening a new satellite office on the Mediterranean island of Malta after the UK leaves the European Union next year.
This was confirmed by the new Chief Digital Officer, Ulrik Bengtsson, who said that the company would open a “small initial organization” in order to support the bookmaker’s international operations as to deflect any possible outcomes of the impact Brexit may have.
“We are setting up a Malta office and a small initial organisation for our international facing business post-Brexit. All current locations are unaffected by the new operation,” Bengtsson said.
The company's official statement further reads: “With William Hill's online customer base overwhelmingly in the UK, Gibraltar will continue to be its key operational hub post-Brexit. However, Malta provides an option for international operations should they be required after Brexit so an exploratory project team is being recruited with regulatory, legal and compliance roles.”
Recently, it was rumored that another betting colossus plans their eventual move to Malta – Bet365. Although the company dismisses that as “wholly inaccurate” and is adamant they won't be leaving Gibraltar on a permanent basis, Malta's low-tax policy and openness to foreign operators has attracted numerous leading names in the gambling and betting industry – 888 has, for instance, has applied for a Malta license motivated by the same concerns. Besides, the post-Brexit uncertainties has left all UK operators contemplating their future and wondering if their Gibraltar ties will prove enough to save their skin, as from 2019 onward, owning the Gibraltar Remote Gambling License may not be enough to fulfill the market requirements because the territory’s regulations could be deemed ineligible after Brexit.
William Hill, founded in 1934, employs more than 16,000 people in nine different countries.
Source:
“Betting giant William Hill to open satellite office in Malta”, timesofmalta.com, June 1, 2018.