William Hill to Close 200 Betting Shops in the UK as Evoke’s Challenges Persist

(AsiaGameHub) –   The entity formerly known as 888 Holdings has declared that its brick-and-mortar betting outlets are no longer financially viable.

UK.- William Hill, a staple of the British gambling industry owned by Evoke Plc, is preparing to close about 200 shops after conducting an internal review. The Daily Star reports that staff members were notified by email of a digital briefing held at 9am this morning regarding the news.

Approximately 15 percent of the 1,300 William Hill locations in the UK are expected to be affected. An Evoke spokesperson stated: “Following a detailed assessment and due to mounting financial pressures on the regulated market—including the substantial tax hikes announced in the Government’s Autumn Budget—we are shuttering a number of unsustainable locations starting this May.”

London-listed Evoke, previously operating as 888 Holdings, had already cautioned in January that shop closures were likely. The company is largely pointing to the hike in online gambling duties starting tomorrow (April 1) as a factor, despite the fact that retail betting is not subject to this specific increase.

The broader trend shows that retail betting revenue has been declining for a significant period. According to Gambling Commission statistics, the gross gambling yield for retail bookmakers dropped 7 percent year-on-year to £549m between October and December 2025. Competitors such as Flutter’s Paddy Power and Entain’s Ladbrokes have also shuttered locations, leaving Ireland’s BoyleSports as the only major firm to have expanded its retail footprint over the last three years.

This situation brings into question Evoke’s 2022 acquisition of William Hill’s international business from Caesars for £2.2bn, a move funded by significant debt. In the last twelve months, the firm has exited 13 international markets, while its share price has dropped by over 28 percent to 34.05p, resulting in a market cap of roughly £150m.

Ironshield Capital Management, a specialist in distressed credit, has secured a 6.07 percent stake, while rumors circulate that Betfred or Bally’s could be interested in a takeover. Evoke has also rescheduled its full-year results for April 29 to allow for the completion of a strategic review initiated in December.