Evoke reported third-quarter revenue of £406 million, 7% below the same period last year, as the William Hill owner operated approximately 270 fewer UK betting shops and faced customer-friendly football results.
Revenue declined 2% on a like-for-like constant-currency basis after adjusting for the smaller estate. The company estimated that sports results at the start of the season reduced annual growth by another one to two percentage points, leaving revenue broadly stable on a normalised basis.
Evoke chief executive Per Widerström linked the closures to higher industry taxation and urged the UK government to avoid further increases in the Autumn Budget. iGaming Business notes that taxes on retail bets were not themselves increased, while Evoke has used shop closures partly to offset higher online duties.
The company told NEXT.io that it has no additional closures planned, subject to the budget outcome. Its all-share acquisition by Bally's Intralot remains on track for completion in late 2026 or early 2027 after most regulatory approvals were received.
