The owner of William Hill, Evoke, is preparing to close up to 200 of its U.K. betting shops as it attempts to tackle mounting financial pressures, according to The Times. The closures, which are due to start next year, could lead to the loss of up to 1,500 jobs.
Key Takeaways
- Up to 200 William Hill betting shops could shut, with 1,500 jobs at risk.
- Evoke, the owner, battles £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) debt and falling revenues.
- Fears of wider closures if gambling taxes rise in the upcoming U.K. budget.
Evoke bought William Hill in 2022 for £2 billion ($2.7 billion) and has been losing money ever since. They reported a pre-tax loss of £78 million ($103.7 million) for the first half of 2025 and have said it could face a £10 million ($13.3 million) hit from recent tax increases.
Industry insiders suggest that the final number of shop closures could be influenced by the government's budget announcement on Nov. 26. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering further taxation on the gambling sector.
Evoke confirmed it is assessing the potential impact of different tax scenarios. Other operators, such as Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes, have warned of potential closures.
The Treasury insists that its ongoing consultation is not explicitly aimed at increasing or decreasing tax rates, but over 100 Labour MPs have already urged the Chancellor to impose new levies on gambling companies, citing a potential £3 billion ($4 billion) revenue boost.
Advertising surge fuels calls for gambling reform
As financial scrutiny of the gambling sector intensifies, a separate study from the University of Bristol has revealed that 27,440 gambling-related messages appeared during the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Researchers monitored 29 hours of live U.K. sports broadcasts and found that many gambling messages were displayed even during periods covered by the so-called “whistle-to-whistle” ban, which aims to limit betting ads during live games.
One match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers alone featured an average of 22 gambling messages per minute. Critics argue that these findings underscore the ineffectiveness of voluntary advertising controls and the saturation of betting promotions in top-flight football.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, chair of the Gambling Reform APPG, described the volume of advertising as “astonishing” and has called for stricter regulation.
William Hill expands in Las Vegas despite UK cuts
While Evoke considers shrinking its U.K. footprint, William Hill is expanding operations in the U.S.
Last month, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas announced a new partnership with William Hill Nevada, which will oversee its sportsbook operations pending regulatory approval.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with William Hill to elevate our sportsbook experience,” said Cliff Atkinson, president of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. “William Hill is the right strategic partner for us given its track record of providing an unmatched retail and mobile sports betting experience in Nevada. This transition allows us to redefine our sportsbook and align it more closely with the dynamic energy and innovation synonymous with our resort.”
This move is another sign of William Hill’s growth in the U.S. market after its acquisition by Caesars Entertainment in 2021.
