EUROPE/LAND-BASED GAMBLING

William Hill and Evoke to shutter around 270 betting shops

Evoke confirms closures for 270-odd betting shops in the United Kingdom The company has cited the newly introduced tax hikes as the reason for the closures

Published on May 1, 2026

Summary

  • Evoke confirms closures for 270-odd betting shops in the United Kingdom
  • The company has cited the newly introduced tax hikes as the reason for the closures
  • Hundreds of jobs will be affected as a result
William Hill and Evoke to shutter around 270 betting shops Thumbnail

William Hill and its parent company evoke are now moving forward with the closure of around 270 betting shops, as the cumulative pressure of operational results and higher tax burden has contributed to the decision.

Evoke confirms closures of hundreds of shops, affecting jobs

The company has attributed its soaring debt worth £549.1m to the newly introduced gambling tax increase approved in November 2025, which has further suppressed competitiveness and led to difficult decisions. The significant UK duty increases announced in November represented a fundamental shift in the economics of our largest market and will have a substantial impact across the regulated industry, said evoke CEO Per Widerstrom. Since April 2026, the remote gaming duty has been 40%, up from 21% previously. The closures will result in job losses, most likely affecting hundreds of employees, but the exact number has not been shared by evoke. The company is also possibly looking into a possible takeover deal put forward by Bally’s Intralot, which is willing to pay £225m to acquire the embattled gaming behemoth. Not all is terribly grim for evoke, despite the high street sector in the United Kingdom taking a hit sooner than expected due to the tax increase. In fact, the company saw its revenue for the full-year 2025 up 2% year-on-year to £1.8bn. EBITDA also improved to £301.3m, up 43%, largely attributed to a new approach to the company’s marketing activities. The company’s debt has grown - as of December 31, 2025 - to £1.8bn, but leverage has decreased to 5.2x, down from 5.7x previously.

Evoke sees glimmers of hope in latest earnings call

Evoke experienced a reduction in online revenue in the United Kingdom and Ireland, attributing it to online sports betting. The reduction in staking partly reflects our focus on customervalue over volume, and partly reflects ongoing market dynamics with increased black market penetration, particularly in horseracing, the company explained in its earnings call. We have acted decisively to mitigate the impact of these changes and protect long-term shareholder value, including initiating a strategic review and implementing significant operational actions across the business, Widerstrom wrapped up.

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