William Hill demands apology over Australia in-play media reports
Operator at loggerheads with Australia's Herald Sun newspaper over false claims product is under investigation
William Hill Australia’s relationship with the local press deteriorated further today when the operator demanded the Herald Sun immediately retract what it considered to be false reporting of its in-play betting product.
The newspaper’s front-page this morning claimed the operator’s in-play product was under federal investigation within a wider story on the New South Wales government’s displeasure over William Hill’s sponsorship of the Australian Open.
According to the Melbourne-based publication, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is in the midst of investigating a complaint made against William Hill In-Play last year, a claim the operator strenuously denies.
“William Hill has received confirmation from the Australian Communications and Media Authority that they have not referred to the Australian Federal Police a complaint about William Hill’s in-play service on 24 December, as referenced in the article,” a William Hill spokesperson said.
“We also note that no formal investigation has been undertaken by the Australian Federal Police, let alone any determination that the service is in breach of the law,” the spokesperson added.
The operator said its demand of a retraction was the second time it had been forced to contact the newspaper over inaccurate reporting of the matter in recent months.
Earlier this week William Hill was forced to defend its sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis tournament following allegations of match-fixing at the top level of the sport by the BBC and BuzzFeed.
Novak Djokovic, who admitted to having been asked to throw a match in 2007, described Tennis Australia’s decision to allow William Hill to sponsor the Grand Slam event as “borderline”, while much of the media has voiced its concern at the bookmaker’s involvement in the event.
However, the sponsorship deal has seemingly paid off in the short-term for the operator after it today reported a 93% year-on-year increase in turnover in the first two days of the Open alone.
The operator’s in-play betting operation also enjoyed a particularly strong tournament so far with live betting wagering increasing 258% compared to the same period last year.
This year’s Grand Slam event marks the first time a gambling company has sponsored the tournament which is said to be Australia’s largest annual sporting occasion.