William Hill owner confirms store closures after gambling tax shake-up
William Hill's owner, Evoke, is closing stores due to increased gambling taxes implemented in the UK Budget.Summary
Evoke, the owner of William Hill and 888, has confirmed it will be closing high street betting shops following tax increases on gambling firms introduced in last year’s UK Budget. The company had previously warned of potential closures, up to 200 stores, if the tax hike proceeded. Chancellor Rachel Reeves implemented the tax increases, citing record profits within the gambling industry and growing concerns about problem gambling. The closures reflect a broader trend of declining foot traffic in brick-and-mortar betting shops, accelerated by the pandemic and the rise of online gambling. Evoke is taking steps to mitigate the financial impact, including cost-cutting measures and exploring a potential sale of the business, and expects store closures to offset around half of the tax impact. Despite a 7% increase in overall group revenue in the final quarter of 2025, UK betting revenue slumped by 22% during the same period.
(Source：Mirror)