Evoke to Close 270 UK Betting Shops Amid Losses

Evoke, the owner of William Hill and 888, has announced plans to close around 270 betting shops across the United Kingdom as part of a broader review of its property portfolio aimed at stabilizing its finances.

The debt-laden gambling operator reported pretax losses of 549.1 million pounds for 2025, more than double the 220.9 million pounds lost the previous year. The sharp deterioration stemmed primarily from a 440.3 million pound impairment charge linked to recent UK tax increases on gambling activities. Officials at Evoke stated that the closures, expected to result in hundreds of job losses though an exact figure was not disclosed, reflect efforts to counter rising operational costs and mounting tax pressures.

The announcements follow UK government decisions to raise gambling duties. Chancellor Rachel Reeves increased the remote gaming duty from 21 percent to 40 percent, effective from April. A new online sports betting duty of 25 percent, excluding horse racing, is set to take effect in 2027. Evoke previously estimated these changes could add up to 135 million pounds annually to its duty costs starting in 2027.

The shop closures come amid ongoing takeover discussions. Evoke...