William Hill to pay record £19.2m for ‘widespread and alarming’ failures

Group admits string of transgressions, days before reforms of gambling laws are finalised

William Hill has been fined a record 19m for widespread and alarming" social responsibility and anti-money-laundering failures that were revealed just days before long-awaited reforms of Britain's gambling laws are finalised.

The 88-year-old bookmaking brand, owned by 888 Group, admitted a string of transgressions, including allowing customers to lose tens of thousands of pounds within minutes of opening an account.