Why £2.9 billion Caesars takeover is not the end of the story for William Hill

William Hill embarked on the latest chapter of their long history when Caesars Entertainment completed the £2.9 billion takeover of the venerable bookmaker last week – but more change is around the corner.

Hills' new owner has made it clear it is only interested in retaining the company's operation in the United States in order to exploit the increasingly liberalised sports betting market there, with the hostile regulatory environment towards gambling in the UK understood to have helped drive the decision.

And that means the rest of William Hill's business – including the UK and international online divisions and their betting shops – will be put up for sale, with the assets set to be sold as a whole rather than split up.