Shares in William Hill and Ladbrokes fall after government statement

Shares slump as government plans clampdown
Shares slump as government plans clampdown

Shares in William Hill Plc and Ladbrokes Plc fell after the UK government said it plans to introduce stricter licensing requirements and a levy on overseas gambling firms that want to provide their services to British consumers.

The measures, which parliament are still to approve, will not just affect William Hill and Ladbrokes, who moved their online operations to Gibraltar in August to dodge UK tax and levies, but PartyGaming Plc, 888 Holdings Plc and Sportingbet Plc. Read more.