Bookmakers suffer as sporting results go against them.

William Hill has posted a 3% loss in its quarter three earnings as its customer’s winning streak hits betting results.

In its interim management statement for the 13 weeks to 29 September 2009, the bookmaker said that although group net revenue is up 3% for the year, it has dipped by the same percentage for the last quarter.

With a high number of ‘wins’ in the football league, and fewer ‘draws’, customers have been enjoying more success and William Hill has been forced to payout.

Ralph Topping, William Hill’s Chief Executive, remains positive, despite the quarterly loss: “Business volumes both in our shops and online since the beginning of the football season in mid-August have been good with strong turnover in our online Sportsbook and encouraging levels of recycling in Retail.

“In addition, our machine business continues to perform well. In what has, to date, been an extraordinary year for sporting results, football and horseracing affected us again in August and into September but margins have returned to more normal historic levels since then.”

It said that it still expected its integrated Playtech-based casino to be launched by the end of October.

Separately, Mr Topping has been appointed as a non-Executive Director of the Scottish Premier League (SPL). With the resignation of SPL Chairman Lex Gold, Mr Topping was named as Gold’s successor.

Earlier this month, rival bookmaker Ladbrokes reported a 15% drop in net revenue, and as such decided against paying a final dividend to shareholders this year.