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The move is in response to duty costs increases expected to rise up to £135 million a year starting in 2027
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced tax hikes for online gambling firms in the 2025 autumn budget..
Per Widerstrom, chief executive of Evoke, said: “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".
Evoke last week said it was in talks over a potential takeover by Greek lottery and gaming firm Bally’s Intralot
Evoke, the owner of William Hill and 888, has confirmed the closure of approximately 270 betting shops across the UK. Evoke reported pre-tax losses more than doubled to £549.1 million in 2025.
Evoke said it fell deeper into the red last year due largely to a £440.3 million impairment charge, reflecting the gambling duty hike.
Duty costs are expected to increase up to £135 million a year starting in 2027 after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced tax hikes for online gambling firms in the 2025 autumn budget..
The shop closures are expected to result in hundreds of job losses.
Per Widerstrom, chief executive of Evoke, said: “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.”
UK bookmakers currently pay tax on gross profits (point of consumption), not on player winnings. Current rates include a 15% General Betting Duty on sports and 21% Remote Gaming Duty on online casinos.
Remote gaming duty increased to 40% this month (April 2026), with a 25% remote betting rate coming April 2027.
In November, Entain , which owns Ladbrokes, said the company was “deeply appalled” by changes that it says will shave £150m off underlying profit by 2027.
Grainne Hurst, the chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), said the increases were a “devastating hammer blow to tens of thousands of people working in the industry”.
She said: “The government’s budget is a massive win for the incredibly harmful, unsafe, unregulated gambling black market, which pays no tax and offers none of the protections that exist in the regulated sector.”
Evoke last week said it was in talks over a potential takeover by Greek lottery and gaming firm Bally’s Intralot in a deal valuing the UK betting group at £225.3 million.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
