Ralph Topping gained a lot of experience in the gambling industry as CEO of William Hill. He’s since left that role, but the wisdom hasn’t left him. Right on the heels of William Hill’s buyout offer from Caesars Entertainment, we bring you an in-depth interview of the industry veteran, as he’s Becky Liggero Fontana’s guest this week on The Long Con.

The two began by discussing how Topping got into the industry, and it may never have happened if his father didn’t have a pastime of choice. “Well I’ve never showed any interest in the gambling industry, although my father, when I look back on it, he liked what they call a little punt,” Topping shared. “He liked a bet, he kept disappearing every now and again when we were kids, and he used to say, as he was off to the post office, but he was really going to the bookies, we found that after a while. When I was at university, my parents very kindly bought me a car, but also said that I would have to fund it myself. So I would have to put the petrol in it, or gas as they say in your country, and be responsible for the repairs and whatever else. They bought the car and then he found me the job. He found me a job with a company called, City Bookmakers they were called.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQTt4xRYD2g]

Topping was with William Hill at the very early days of online gambling, and he played a key role in getting them online. “William Hill actually went online in 98 for the World Cup,” he said. “The company had been going through a slow burn in terms of growth and whatever else, but had established itself is one of the leaders in that nascent market. When I took over as CEO, I’d already worked in online and retail and I liked the online business. But as a CEO, you’re in the job for five years on average, so you never know when somebody’s going to come and tap you on the shoulder.”