William Hill today posted a 3 percent rise in half-year revenue, benefiting from its online sportsbook and FIFA World Cup betting.

However, the company posted a pre-tax loss of 802.3 million pounds compared to a profit of 108.6 million pounds last year, as it took a non-cash charge of 915.9 million pounds mainly for repositioning its retail business because of betting regulatory changes in Britain.

Adjusted operating profit from existing operations, which excluded US states in which the company had recently expanded, rose 1% to £130.8m.

‘William Hill has performed well during the first half of 2018 and, following major regulatory decisions in the UK and US, we now have greater clarity over the challenges and opportunities that lie before us,’ chief executive Philip Bowcock said.

The US Supreme Court in May legalised sports betting across the company and William Hill has already started growing revenue rapidly in that market, though established costs have weighed on profits there. William Hill said it had a ‘good’ World Cup, recording more than a million active users across the tournament.