Evoke’s Q3 Revenue Falls by Approximately 7%; William Hill Closes 270 Betting Shops
Evoke—the parent company of William Hill, 888, and Mr Green—reported a 7% year-on-year decline in third-quarter revenue, totaling £406 million. This downturn is primarily attributed to the closure of betting shops in the UK, as well as sports results that favored customers.
According to the company’s latest business update, when adjusting for the closure of approximately 270 retail outlets, revenue for the three months ending September 30, 2026, fell by 2% on a like-for-like basis (excluding the impact of the closures) and at constant exchange rates.
Evoke noted that sports outcomes early in the football season also weighed on year-on-year revenue growth, accounting for a drag of approximately 1 to 2 percentage points; excluding these factors, revenue remained largely stable.
Over the past year, the company has closed about 270 betting shops in response to mounting cost pressures, including increases in UK gambling taxes.
CEO Per Widerström stated that these closures highlight the impact that rising industry taxes have on jobs and livelihoods. He urged the government to carefully consider the potential consequences of further tax hikes ahead of the “Autumn Budget” announcement on October 28.
The UK has raised the “Remote Gaming Duty” from 21% to 40%, a policy set to take effect in April 2026. Additionally, a new tax on remote gambling—at a rate of 25%—is scheduled for implementation in April 2027; bets placed on UK horse racing are excluded from this, remaining subject to a 15% tax rate.
Evoke’s financial figures illustrate the distinction between the contraction of its retail footprint and its underlying operational performance. While reported revenue declined by 7%, the drop is significantly narrower when the impact of retail shop closures is removed—with sports outcomes serving as another contributing factor to the revenue decline. The company also confirmed that Bally’s proposed acquisition of Intralot is proceeding as planned, with completion expected by late 2026 or early 2027, subject to the fulfillment of relevant conditions precedent. Source
Evoke Official Q3 Trading Update: Company Announcement
iGaming Business – Taxes and Store Closures: iGaming Business Report
Reuters – Q3 Financial Results: Reuters Report
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