In October last year, FanDuel infringed on copyright laws by copying a ‘How To Bet’ guide that William Hill had published for its new punters. Unfortunately for FanDuel, the copy was so blatant that it still contained William Hills name in certain sections of the guide!
This was brought to the attention of the guide’s owners who opened a civil suit against the fantasy sportsbook. At the time, CEO Joe Asher explained that litigation was not the company’s first choice, but that the copy was so blatant that they did not have much choice.
No Settlement Specifics for the Public
Although the settlement was reached several weeks ago, it has only just been announced to the public.
The specifics are not available for public consumption, but CEO Asher has said that the company will not be seeking compensation for legal costs. He also confirmed that the company would be using some of the funds toward creative writing programs and a responsible gambling program as he said last year.
William Hill Enters New Partnership in Iowa
Winning lawsuits is not William Hill’s only focus, as the company has been pushing to grow its presence in the United States. To date, eight states have legalized sports betting and the bookmaker and casino brand’s US division is capitalizing.
The brand has just signed a deal with Iowa based Prairie Meadows. The racetrack and casino announced last week that William Hill US will be operating the sportsbook for them. This forms part of the Prairie Meadows strategic plan for 2019, which is a bit of a gamble since sports betting has not yet been legalized in the state.
The two companies are making sure they are prepared for the day sports betting gets the go-ahead in and have plans to construct a new 8400 square meter sports book facility on one of the casino's floors.
Joe Asher has shared his excitement about the company’s new partnership and the prospect of legalized sports betting in Iowa. He said the company is thrilled to have Prairie Meadow as a partner and that they are ready for the day that it is legalized.
At present, there is no immediate plan to legalize sports betting in the state which means both punters and Prairie Meadows will have to wait patiently for legislative changes.