Bally’s Intralot had until 5pm GMT on 18 May to announce a firm intention to bid for evoke or withdraw, under the UK Takeover Code, according to reports. The companies had been discussing an indicative 50p-per-share proposal that valued evoke at about £225m; evoke said discussions were ongoing.
The deadline determines whether the proposed acquisition proceeds to a firm offer or is withdrawn.
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It was reported that Gaming Corps secured a content agreement with UK operator group evoke. The deal spans the William Hill, Mr Green and 888 brands.
Ironshield Capital Management built a 6% position in evoke, according to the report published on 31 March 2026. The report identifies evoke as the parent of William Hill, 888 and Mr Green but gives no further details of the investment.
Bally’s Intralot shareholders approved the proposed €283.2m acquisition of Evoke, with 99.585% of votes cast supporting the deal, according to the report. Evoke shareholders had already approved it. Regulatory authorisations and a court hearing remain outstanding, with completion expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
Playtech chief executive Mor Weizer said the company is targeting an agreement and launch in Brazil by early 2027. He said the government and prospective customer had asked Playtech to wait until after the election period; the company said it remains confident of reaching an agreement.
Reportedly, Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, remains in broadly the same financial position as a year earlier as it awaits acquisition by Bally's Intralot. The Athens-listed buyer paid £243.3m for the LSE-listed company, with the deal due to complete in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027.