(Adds details on sporting results, review of Australia business)
Feb 23 (Reuters) - British bookmaker William Hill WMH.L posted an 11 percent rise in annual pretax profit, led by growth in its online business and payout gains from more draws being played on Boxing Day English Premier League soccer games.
William Hill, which named a new chief executive and a finance head last year, said adjusted operating profit for the 52 weeks to Dec. 26 rose to 291.3 million pounds ($406 million) from 261.5 million pounds in 2016.
Revenue from online business grew 13 percent, while adjusted profit surged 34 percent.
Its gross win margin, which was soft in the first half, benefited from favourable sporting results in the fourth quarter to rise to 7.6 percent. out of eight Premier League matches ended in a draw on Dec.26 compared with one in 2016.
In the Football Association (FA) Cup, football clubs Chelsea and West Ham United were forced to play extra round of games after failing to get results in two rounds, helping bookmakers to earn from them.
However, William Hill, which bought into the Australian market in 2013 that has been hit by adverse tax and regulatory changes, said the unit is undergoing a strategic review which is expected to conclude by mid-2018.
($1 = 0.7175 pounds)