Caesars Entertainment has gotten partial antitrust clearance to acquire the UK-based sports betting company William Hill. It hopes to complete the $3.7 billion purchase by March.
Caesars got the pass under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, it announced. It also received approvals from the Mississippi Gaming Commission and West Virginia Lottery.
The purchase still needs permission of the English High Court.
The purchase of William Hill is part of Caesars overall strategy to expand into sports gaming. Caesars already owned 20 percent of the company when it began the acquisition.
William Hill US operates sportsbooks in 12 Caesars properties in three states and a total of 170 retail locations in 13 U.S. states. Once the purchase is complete it will rebrand as Caesars Sportsbook in Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada.
