The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has revealed that illegal operators received £100 million in bets during the Grand National festival at Aintree.It’s estimated that...
evoke to shut down 270 UK shops over gambling tax rises
evoke has confirmed that it will shut down over 270 betting shops in the UK, noting that the company suffered £549.1 million in pre-tax losses in 2025 after the rise in remote gaming duty.
The company stated that the decision was made after conducting a detailed review of its UK retail estate and concluding that the chosen shops weren’t commercially profitable anymore. Some of the selected locations have already been closed, with the rest scheduled to stop operations in the coming months of 2026.
The CEO of evoke, Per Widerström, commented:
“Throughout 2025, we delivered consistent operational progress, resulting in a more efficient, focused, and disciplined business delivering improved marketing returns, stronger cost control, enhanced operating leverage, and a step change in underlying profitability. However, the significant UK duty increases announced in November represented a fundamental shift in the economics of our largest market and will have a substantial impact across the regulated industry. We have acted decisively to mitigate the impact of these changes and protect long-term shareholder value, including initiating a strategic review and implementing significant operational actions across the business.”
The review process was launched after the UK tax hike announcement, as the measures aim to maximize shareholder value by decreasing marketing costs, renegotiating deals with suppliers, and reducing additional costs.
evoke, the owner of William Hill and 888, confirmed on April 20, 2026, that it is discussing a £225 million takeover proposal from Bally’s Intralot.It’s been revealed...
