William Hill News | cporter

Holland v Netherlands - you decide for a chance of free bet

2009-11-10T14:06:48+00:00

They were European Champions in 1988 and were World Cup runners-up in both 1974 and 1978. They are ranked third in the world by FIFA, invented Total Football and brought us one of football's true legends in Johan Cruyff.

Their country is famous for its tulips, canals, clogs, coffee shops, boys sticking their fingers in dykes and for being flat but, here at William Hill, we just don't know what to call their national football team.

We all know that the Netherlands is the correct name for the country and, therefore the football team - FIFA say so, UEFA say so and so do the KNVB (the Dutch FA).

However, despite it being just a region, Holland is widley used in English (even by the Dutch tourist board's translations) and even in the Netherlands to refer to the country and its team. But isn't that like someone using Yorkshire to refer to England's Three Lions? Let's face it, nobody with any sense wants that to happen!

With the World Cup 2010 on the horizon we've decided it's time to make our minds up - so we're asking our valued customers to help us decide this once and for all. All your votes will be counted and the winning name will be used on the William Hill Sportsbook (at least until someone makes another formal complaint).

As a way of thanking you for your time and effort we're also giving away a total of £100 in free bets as twenty entries drawn at random will receive £5 in their betting account.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your entry, leave us a comment if you like and don't forget to have a football bet on this weekend's World Cup Qualifiers and International Friendlies while you're here. (The NetherHollands are playing the World Champions Italy, by the way).

Entries must be received before 23:59 on Sunday 15 November 2009. Only valid William Hill account holders will be able to receive free bets. Returns from winning free bets will not include the free bet stake.

Treat yourself this Christmas at the Winter Festival

2009-11-09T14:21:25+00:00

William Hill are delighted to offer your the perfect gift this Christmas. Indulge in an exclusive hospitality package for the culmination of the William Hill Winter Festival.

On arrival at the luxury Desert Orchid suite, you and your guests will be greeted to a Bucks Fizz reception whilst enjoying the unparalleled views over Kempton Park racecourse from your private balcony.

After you've had time to study the form and made your selections, a sumptious four-course lunch with a choice of carefully selected wines will be served. A full afternoon tea willl also be served during the racing.

Throughout the afternoon's superb racing we have, for your convenience, an exclusive cash bar and, to avoid the cold, your own private betting facility.

If only every decision was that simple...

Limited availability - take advantage early

Exclusive package includes:

Private Suite entry

Racecard

Bucks Fizz reception

Four-course lunch

Wine with lunch

One Timeform per couple

Top tipster competition

Cash bar

Afternoon tea

William Hill host

All for just £90 per person

BOOK NOW on 0113 391 5031 or email events@williamhill.co.uk

Unlucky Lucie leaves the X-Factor - who will leave next?

2009-11-09T10:30:21+00:00

Lucie Jones was voted off the show by public vote on Sunday night once Simon Cowell caused controversy and deadlocked the judges' decisions.

Less than 2% of entries into last week's competition predicted her to go, Mr H from Leeds was one of them and has received his £20 free bet prize, yet the public voted to keep the despicable John and Edward (or "Jedward" as they are becoming known). Entertaining? They may be. Talented...? Well, take a look at the video at the top of the page before making your mind up.

Twenty percent of our entrants thought it would have been their time to go this week while nearly 60% incorrectly guessed it would Lloyd Daniel's final week on the show, but another talented and able singer is out on the street having been deemed not to have the X-Factor. Lloyd is the 13/8 favourite to leave this weekend ahead of the twins at 9/4. View the full list of betting odds

Just pick from the remaining eight acts who you think will get the boot on Sunday evening and one lucky winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries to receive a free £20 bet to use on any of the X Factor markets and remember to back your guess up with a bet.

* Prices subject to change

Free bet on Liverpool v Birmingham for everyone

2009-11-09T08:25:15+00:00

More free bets for everyone on Monday night's football as Liverpool take on Birmingham live on ESPN.

Tonight's Premier League clash is one of those games that Liverpool should win, and more importantly must win to keep in touch with the top of the table.

To enhance your viewing we're offering you a free bet on one of the our range of In-Play markets for you to place during the first half of the game.

Place a single bet of £20 or more on the 90 minutes market in the Liverpool v Birmingham match and you'll receive a £5 free bet on the Live Score market.

Your free bet is on the Live Score (In-Play correct score) and will become available after kick-off and must be placed prior to half-time.

QUALIFYING BET		To be placed before 20:00 \| 9th November
Min. Stake	Market	Event	Date
£20 single	90 Minutes	Liverpool v Birmingham	09 November
FREE BET		To be placed before 21:00 \| 9th November
Max. Free Bet	Market	Event	Date
£5 single	Live Score	Liverpool v Birmingham	09 November
Currency equivalents apply

How to claim your free bet:

Having placed your qualifying bet detailed in the table above prior to kick-off, go to the free bet market after the match has started and before half time.
Make your selection and add it to your bet slip.
Below the bet slip you will see the option of the free bet available to you. Select the appropriate offer.
Enter the total value of the free bet in the stake box and place the bet as normal.
Free bet must be placed within the time and date stated in the table above.

Standard Free Bet Rules Apply:

One free bet per customer/account/household.
Only a single bet of at least the minimum stake as stated above will qualify. This offer is not based on cumulative stakes.
Free bet tokens are non-refundable. The free bet stake is not included in any returns. The Estimated Return on the Bet Slip and the Bet Receipt indicate returns with stake.
If your free bet selection is a non-runner then the free bet is void but the free bet token will not be re-credited to your account.
A free bet token cannot be partially redeemed. If you attempt to place a bet for lesser total stake than the value of the free bet token, you will not receive any cash change or further free bet tokens.
Free bet offer is available via the sportsbook only. Bets struck on our mobile/WAP service will not qualify.

Free bet offer is available in the following currencies and values:

Currency	AUD	CAD	CHF	DKK	EUR	GBP	HKD	JPY	SEK	SGD	USD
Minimum Stake	40	40	30	160	20	20	230	2600	240	40	20
Maximum Free Bet	10	10	7.50	40	5	5	57.50	650	60	10	5

Instructions on how to check if you've received a free bet, how to redeem your free bet and full terms are available here

The William Hill Sporting Icons survey

2009-11-07T10:24:53+00:00

Are you a Botham or a Bradman? Did Sea The Stars send you into orbit, or do you salute the Brigadier? Do you prefer the silky skills of Pele or the all-round efforts of Puskas? Well now is your chance to tell us!

William Hill, the leading sports bookmaker of the last 75 years is giving you the opportunity to vote for your favourite sporting legends and see them inducted into the brand new William Hill Sporting Lounge at Kempton Park racecourse. The exclusive online poll features past and present sports heroes from 13 different categories and the winner of each category, as voted for by you, will be honoured with their picture on the exclusive Sporting Icons wall in the new lounge.

Anyone who votes for the winning selection in each category will automatically be entered in to a draw to win 4 tickets to Kempton on Sunday 27th December, where they can see their heroes on the Sporting Icons wall. Everyone who enters the poll will also go in to a draw to win a £100 free bet. (Terms apply)

The Surrey track plays host to the William Hill Winter Festival on the 26th and 27th of December where the new bar and the 13 category winners will be unveiled.

Free bet stakes are not returned with any winnings. Tickets to Kempton are member entrance badges on the day specified only, no hospitality or transport is provided.

The William Hill Radio Naps Table

2009-11-07T09:09:12+00:00

Updated every morning at 11am, the William Hill Radio Naps Table gives you the best bets ahead of the day's racing.

Some of the most respected radio pundits in the business are featured in the list below. Follow your favourite.

Napster	Month	Season	Selection	Time/Result
Andy Holding	-0.50	0.00	Freedom Flying	Non-runner	Bet Now
Ben Bramley	-10.00	-3.00	Troodos Jet	Unplaced	Bet Now
Darren Owen	-6.50	-3.00	Cocoa Key	Unplaced	Bet Now
Dave Kelner	-6.50	+1.17	Divvy	Unplaced	Bet Now
Gareth Topham	-3.96	-2.00	Clyffe Hanger	2nd @ 3/1	Bet Now
Gary Capewell	-2.00	-3.00	Red Rattle	2nd @ 3/1	Bet Now
John Budden	-5.67	+1.33	Cast Iron Casey	Unplaced	Bet Now
Ken Pitterson	-6.50	+0.50	Best Oscar	Unplaced	Bet Now
Lucy Rhodes	+6.25	+3.00	Cocoa Key	Unplaced	Bet Now
Mick Naughton	+4.07	-1.33	Mischief Man	2nd @ 6/1	Bet Now
Ross Brierley	-4.00	+3.00	Megasue	2nd @ 2/1	Bet Now
Sam Turner	-5.00	-3.00	Cast Iron Casey	Unplaced	Bet Now
Steven Powell	-0.71	+0.10	River Dragon	Non-runner	Bet Now
Trackside Live	-9.00	-2.00	Kahsabelle	Unplaced	Bet Now

Premier League Prediction competition

2009-11-06T18:26:10+00:00

Pick a Premier League accumulator for free and you could win a £50 free bet in our Be The Pundit prediction competition.

Inspired by The Punt Podcast Prediction Challenge, where we ask pundits Ron Atkinson, Robbie Savage and Derek McGovern for their bets of the week, we decided to see if our punters could do any better.

The Punt is our weekly Premier League podcast where each of the weekend's games are previewed from a betting perspective. Check out the latest Punt podcast

All we're asking you to do, for a chance to win £50 in free bets, is predict the outcome of as many or as few of this weekend's Premier League games.

Once the results are all in we'll find the entry with the biggest returns, based on a mythical £1 accumulator at the prices stated below (which may differ from those on the William Hill Sportsbook), and credit them with the free bet. In the case of a tie one winner will be drawn at random.

On Wednesday, Mr K from London picked eight out of eight Champions League results correctly and won our midweek competition with fantastic returns of £755.00 for a £1 stake. But you don't have to predict every result, leave the one's you're not sure about out.

Don't forget to back up your entry with a real bet on this weekend's Premier League fixtures as you'll lose out if someone gets bigger returns. By adding your predictions to the betslip on the sportsbook you'll also have an idea of your approximate returns should it be successful.

Bet on the Breeders’ Cup for free bets on Chelsea v Man Utd

2009-11-06T17:47:39+00:00

It's a great weekend for sport: there's FA Cup football, Haye takes on Valuev, the autumn rugby union internationals begin and England rugby league have a crunch match against New Zealand in the Four Nations.

But it's the Breeders' Cup, the world's second richest day in horse racing, and the Premier League leaders clash, Chelsea v Man Utd where all William Hill customers can get up to £40 in free bets.

By betting £10 on the Breeders' Cup races listed below you'll earn yourself a free £5 bet on one of the range of 70 markets available on the Chelsea v Man Utd game.

Each of the eight Breeder's Cup races on Saturday night from Santa Anita has a particular £5 free bet attached to it so, if you bet £10 or more on every race, that's 8 free bets worth a total of £40!

This qualifying bet earns you		this FREE BET
Minimum stake	Breeders' Cup Race (Santa Anita)	Max. free bet	Chelsea v Man Utd market
£10 win or £5 each-way single	6:45 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf	£5.00 single	Time of 1st goal	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	7:23 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint	£5.00 single	Winning margin live §	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	8:10 Breeders' Cup Sprint	£5.00 single	Double result (HT/FT)	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	8:49 Breeders' Cup Juvenile	£5.00 single	Total bookings live 1 §	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	9:28 Breeders' Cup Mile	£5.00 single	1st half goals	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	10:12 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile	£5.00 single	Total corners live §	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	10:57 Breeders' Cup Turf	£5.00 single	Scorecast	Learn more
£10 win or £5 each-way single	11:45 Breeders' Cup Classic	£5.00 single	Live Score §	Learn more

Qualifying bets must be placed on the William Hill priced markets. Bets placed through the American pools will not qualify for free bets. Free bets marked § are In-Play markets that must be placed during the first half of the Chelsea v Man Utd match (Sunday 08 November 16:00-17:00). Other free bets must be placed before kick-off. How to claim your free bet and free bet rules available. Currency equivalents apply.

The free bet markets explained
The free bets on offer are just a few of the massive new range of 70 markets available on top-flight football with William Hill. Some of these might be a little but new to you so here's a little explanation of how they work.
Time of 1st goal	Winning margin live
One of our Goal Markets. Choose which of the 10-minute slots the first goal of the game is scored, or choose No Goal if you think it will be goalless. Applies to first goal of the 90 minutes of the match including injury time including own goals and penalties.	An In-Play market which is only available once the game kicks off. Select who will win and by what margin (e.g. Chelsea by 2 goals) or if it will be a No Score Draw (nil-nil) or a Score Draw.
Double Result	Total corners live
Also known as half-time/full time, this bet asks you to predict who will be leading at half-time and what the full time result will be. For example if it's Chelsea 1-0 at the break and there are no more goals then the result is Chelsea-Chelsea.	The good thing about this market is that it is available In-Play. That means you can see how the game starts before making your decision and placing your bet - but remember, this free bet is only available from kick-off until half-time.
1st half goals	Total Bookings Live
As simple as it sounds. Will there no goals, one goal or two or more goals in the first 45 minutes (including injury time)?	Another In-Play market. Every yellow card shown is worth 10 points and a red card 25 points (maximum 35 per player). If you think the referee likes to flash the cards then go high. Your choices are Under 25, 25-40 and over 40 points.
Scorecast	Live Score
A great interest market that can also bring big returns. It's basically a special double bet as you pick the first goalscorer and the correct score of the game, e.g. Didier Drogba & Chelsea 2-1. If your player hasn't taken part in the game before the first goal is scored then the bet becomes a single on the correct score at appropriate odds.	This is the same as the good old Correct Score market, just predict the final score of the game at the end of the 90 minutes (including injury time), except that you place this one during the match (in the case of this free bet, before half-time).

How to claim your free bet:

Having placed your qualifying bet detailed in the table above prior to the off, go to the free bet market.
Make your selection and add it to your bet slip.
Below the bet slip you will see the option of the free bet available to you. Select the appropriate offer.
Enter the total value of the free bet in the stake box and place the bet as normal.
Free bet must be placed within the time and date stated in the table above.

Standard Free Bet Rules Apply:

One free bet per customer/account/household.
Only a single bet of at least the minimum stake as stated above will qualify. This offer is not based on cumulative stakes.
Free bet tokens are non-refundable. The free bet stake is not included in any returns. The Estimated Return on the Bet Slip and the Bet Receipt indicate returns with stake.
If your free bet selection is a non-runner then the free bet is void but the free bet token will not be re-credited to your account.
A free bet token cannot be partially redeemed. If you attempt to place a bet for lesser total stake than the value of the free bet token, you will not receive any cash change or further free bet tokens.
Free bet offer is available online via the sportsbook only. Bets struck on our mobile/WAP or telephone betting service will not qualify.

Free bet offer is available in the following currencies and values:

Currency	AUD	CAD	CHF	DKK	EUR	GBP	HKD	JPY	SEK	SGD	USD
Minimum Stake	20	20	15	80	10	10	115	1300	120	20	10
Maximum Free Bet	10	10	7.50	40	5	5	57.50	650	60	10	5

Instructions on how to check if you've received a free bet, how to redeem your free bet and full terms are available here

The Punt Podcast Prediction Challenge

2009-11-06T08:24:19+00:00

The Punt is the Premier League and FA Cup football betting podcast for the discerning punter.

Each weekend we ask our expert panel to put our money where their mouth is and give our readers and listeners a multiple to follow.

For the rest of the Premier League season, and filling in the blank weekends with the FA Cup, we're giving them a £1 bet and we'll keep a track of how they do right here. You can also bet on their selections as we'll put them in a Bet Bundle to make it even easier for you to get the value of a multiple with just one click to the slip. View our Bet Bundles

Come the end of the season, the tipster with the biggest profit will receive a £1,000 betting fund from William Hill Online to use during the 2010 World Cup. That grand will go to the charity of their choice, plus any winnings.

Our illustrious panel feature a pundit, a player and a pro:

Ron Atkinson is one of the biggest names and characters in football. More noted for his managerial career than as a player he has managed no less than 10 clubs including Manchester Utd, West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Atlético Madrid.

Robbie Savage is a former Wales international currently captaining Championship side Derby Country. He started his football career at Manchester Utd and enjoyed over 10 years playing Premier League football with Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn and his present side.

Derek McGovern modestly claims to be sports betting's top tipster and has a regular column in the Daily Mirror. Result! He has a shrewd knowledge of football betting and can spot value a mile off.

View their predictions for this week below:

Week	Pundit	Prediction	Pays	Week	Cumulative
4 07-09 Nov	Ron Atkinson	Man City, Arsenal, Aston Villa & Tottenham	17/4
	Derek McGovern	Man City, Chelsea & Liverpool	11/4
	Robbie Savage	Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool	17/4
3 31 Oct -01 Nov	Ron Atkinson	Arsenal, Man Utd & Sunderland	13/5	-£1.00	-£3.00
	Derek McGovern	Tottenham	5/1	-£1.00	£7.00
	Robbie Savage	Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd & Sunderland	4/1	-£1.00	-£3.00
2 17-18 Oct	Ron Atkinson	Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham & Arsenal	11/4	-£1.00	-£2.00
	Derek McGovern	Aston Villa & Portsmouth	5/1	-£1.00	£8.00
	Robbie Savage	Aston Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham & Man Utd	9/1	-£1.00	-£2.00
1 17-18 Oct	Ron Atkinson	Stoke, Arsenal, Everton & Tottenham	11/2	-£1.00	-£1.00
	Derek McGovern	Stoke & Sunderland	9/1	£9.00	£9.00
	Robbie Savage	Man City & Aston Villa	7/1	-£1.00	-£1.00

Pocket yourself a free bet in our Premier League snooker competition

2009-11-04T15:30:47+00:00

There's £20 free bet going to the winner of our Premier League snooker competition as the tournament comes to Essex for the week eight action.

Are you aware that William Hill are offering over ten betting markets for each of the two games being played Thursday night? And the betting action doesn't stop once the match starts with In-Play, frame-by-frame betting continuing throughout the game.

To be in with a chance of winning the £20 free bet in our free-to-enter competition all you have to do is have a go at some of the markets that we offer on Premier League snooker.

Just make your selections on each of the four markets listed below for both games. The free bet winner will be selected from all the entries with the most correct answers. Don't forget you can actually bet on these markets too and guarantee your correct predictions will bring winnings to you.