TLDR Evoke Plc will permanently close around 200 William Hill betting shops starting in May, roughly 15% of its retail estate The closures follow the UK government’s increase to Remote Gaming Duty announced in the autumn budget Evoke is undergoing a broader strategic review that may include selling parts or all of the business Deutsche Bank cut Evoke’s earnings forecasts sharply, with EPS expected to fall by 40% in FY26 and 52% in FY27 Industry experts suggest Evoke’s best move may be selling its international division to reduce debt
Evoke Plc, the company behind the William Hill brand, told staff on Tuesday that it plans to permanently close approximately 200 of its UK retail betting shops.
The closures will begin in May and represent about 15% of Evoke’s total retail estate. The company currently operates around 1,300 betting outlets across the UK.
Evoke said the shop closures are part of a broader strategic review that has been underway since December. That review may include potential asset disposals, including a part or full sale of the business.
The decision comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an increase to the UK’s Remote Gaming Duty and Remote Betting Duty in last year’s autumn budget. The Remote Gaming Duty increase came into force on April 1, 2026, while the Remote Betting Duty rise is set to go live in April 2027.
Evoke CEO Per Widerström first confirmed the planned closures back in January during a company trading update. The threat of closures had been raised even before the budget was announced.
Rising Costs Push Evoke to Act
In a statement, an Evoke spokesperson said the company had conducted a thorough review. The spokesperson pointed to increased cost pressures on the regulated gambling sector, including the tax increases from the autumn budget.