Bookmaker William Hill has attacked the UK government's ‘flip-flopping’ gambling policy after recording an underlying 10% fall in first-half profits resulting from losing results at Euro 2008 and Royal Ascot.

Ralph Topping, chief executive, called for a cut in the 15% tax paid by UK-based bookmakers on internet gambling and warned the government against any crackdowns on fixed-odds betting terminals, The Daily Telegraph reports.

‘We paid £267m in taxes last year plus £30m in levies to the horseracing and greyhound industries and employ 14,000 people,’ Topping said. ‘This business has to be allowed some room to grow. What I am saying to the Government is, please think things through from all angles.’

Topping said a 15% gross profits tax on online gambling was not appropriate, arguing it made UK-based bookmakers uncompetitive against offshore rivals.

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