Evoke Considers William Hill Shop Closures Ahead of Expected UK Gambling Tax Rise

Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, has confirmed it is reviewing plans to close a number of its UK betting shops in response to a potential increase in gambling taxes expected to be announced in next month’s autumn budget, as first reported by The Sunday Times.

The company stated that contingency measures were being prepared ahead of the Chancellor’s fiscal statement on 26 November, amid reports suggesting that between 120 and 200 William Hill shops could face closure if the proposed tax changes are implemented.

An Evoke spokesperson said:

“We are mindful of potential tax increases in the forthcoming budget which would impact investment in the UK and drive more customers to the black market. As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of different overall tax scenarios on our UK operations. This includes the difficult but necessary consideration for shop closures.”

Evoke, formerly known as 888 Holdings, acquired William Hill in 2022 for £2bn ($2.6bn). The company currently operates around 1,300 William Hill shops and employs approximately 10,000 people across its global portfolio, which also includes the 888 and Mr Green brands.

Earlier this month, Evoke announced the launch of an upgraded version of the William Hill Vegas app, part of its ongoing digital transformation strategy.

The operator remains burdened with £1.8bn in debt following the William Hill acquisition and reported a pre-tax loss of nearly £78m for the first half of 2025. The company stressed that no final decision regarding potential closures has yet been made.

Evoke’s warning follows similar concerns raised by Entain CEO Stella David last week, who cautioned that higher gambling taxes could force shop closures and push UK investment overseas.

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