William Hill has purchased the stake held by Playtech, giving the bookmaker total control of its online business.

Playtech’s 29% stake in William Hill Online was acquired for the eye-watering sum of £424 million, and follows William Hill’s recent big-money move to buy the Australian and Spanish operations of Sportingbet for £460 million.

According to Reuters, the company is looking to expand overseas and maintain the strong growth enjoyed by its online operations.

Chief executive Ralph Topping, who has worked for the bookmaker for 40 years, said: “This move rounds off a successful 12 months which have seen us take our first steps into the U.S. and, through the pending Sportingbet acquisition, lay the foundations for growth in the attractive Australian market.”