British bookmaker William Hill has posted lower first-half profit, as a regulatory cap on fixed odds betting terminals in UK betting shops and more costs to expand in the US took a toll on the gambling group.

William Hill is to sell its Australian business for 300 million Australian dollars (€188.7 million) to CrownBet following a gambling crackdown in the country.

Betting giant William Hill said full-year profits would be at the top end of its target as plans to turn around its struggling online business began to bear fruit.

Profits at William Hill were boosted by a strong Euro 2016 in the first half of the year, helping offset a dire Cheltenham Festival.