Evoke reports Q3 revenue of GBP 406 million, down 7%

Evoke reported Q3 revenue of GBP 406 million, a 7% decline from the same period in 2025, according to the company's results. Evoke said sports betting results that favoured customers accounted for 1-2% of the decrease. The group owns the William Hill, 888 and Mr Green brands.

William Hill closed 270 UK betting shops over the past year, a move Evoke chief executive Per Widerström attributed primarily to recent UK tax increases. The closures form part of a plan to cut costs and reduce Evoke's GBP 1.8 billion debt, which the company said outweighed its market value of roughly GBP 210 million. The closures could affect more than 10% of Evoke's 1,300 UK locations and put over 1,500 jobs at risk, according to the report.

Widerström said: "The closure of 270 shops over the past year shows the real impact on jobs and livelihoods from higher industry taxation, and we urge the UK Government to carefully consider any further increases ahead of its forthcoming Autumn Budget." According to the report, he also described the company as resilient and said it was pursuing sustained profitability across its core markets.

Outside the UK, William Hill withdrew from several regions in Africa and South Asia last year to streamline the business and reduce expenses, the report said. The report also said the closures could extend to Entain, which owns the Ladbrokes and Coral brands.

Evoke shares were trading at 42.85 GBX, compared with a 2021 share price of 382.8 GBX, the report said.