Evoke faces up to £135m in extra annual duty once new tax rates fully bite, according to the company.
The hit
Evoke, owner of William Hill, 888 & Mr Green, posted a 7% year-on-year drop in third-quarter revenue & urged the UK government to avoid further gambling tax rises in next week’s autumn budget. Stripping out around 270 shop closures & currency effects, revenue fell just 2%, with bettor-friendly football results cutting growth by a further 1-2 points, according to the company. Chief executive Per Widerström said the shop closures show the real cost of higher industry taxation.
Why it matters
Higher remote gaming duty has already forced Evoke to shut shops & cut costs to protect margins. With a further betting duty rise due in April 2027, the budget outcome could decide how many more shops & jobs go, & how operators price products for bettors in the UK market.
The record
| Q3 revenue | £406m, down 7% year-on-year (Evoke) |
|---|---|
| Remote gaming duty rise | 21% to 40% from 1 April 2026 (UK government) |
| Projected extra annual duty | £125m-£135m once fully implemented (Evoke) |
| Shops closed since 2025 budget | about 270 William Hill shops (Evoke) |
| Industry-wide impact since 2025 budget | 600+ shops shut, 10,250 jobs lost or at risk (six largest UK gambling firms) |
What happens next
The UK’s autumn budget lands on 28 October. Industry leaders want machine games duty held & the April 2027 betting duty rise suspended pending a review.
Sources: Evoke revenue drops 7% amid UK gambling tax pressures
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