º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Enterprise

William Hill owner confirms 200 shop closures as industry faces budget uncertainty

The betting giant is eyeing up to 200 closures as its parent company Evoke looks to steady its heavily indebted balance sheet ahead of a potential tax raid in next month's budget

A William Hill betting shop

William Hill is considering the closure of 200 of its º£½ÇÊÓÆµ betting shops as parent company Evoke seeks to stabilise its heavily indebted balance sheet ahead of a potential tax raid in next month's budget.

The decision emerges as the Gambling Commission and Treasury contemplate stricter regulations and levies for the gambling sector, which has already suffered significantly from the £2 stake cap on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), as reported by .

Evoke, previously known as 888 Holdings, has confirmed that it is "continuously reviewing and adapting our shop portfolio to ensure it aligns with our long-term strategy for sustainable, profitable growth".

Industry sources informed the Times that between 120 and 200 outlets are anticipated to shut – approximately one in ten of its 1,300-strong portfolio – placing up to 1,500 positions in jeopardy.

The assessment forms part of a broader cost-reduction initiative as Evoke attempts to diminish its £1.8bn debt burden against a market capitalisation of roughly £210m.

The firm recorded a £78m pre-tax loss during the opening six months of 2025, with retail revenues declining by two per cent.

'Tax hikes would hurt jobs and invesment'

The shutdowns arrive amidst mounting speculation that Rachel Reeves will increase gambling duties in her 26 November budget, following pressure from former prime minister Gordon Brown, who has branded the sector 'undertaxed'. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) calculates that raising the remote gambling duty from 21 per cent to 50 per cent, combined with increases to betting and gaming machine duties, could generate over £3bn for the Treasury.

Industry chiefs have cautioned that such measures might have devastating effects on high street bookmakers.