99.585% back Bally’s Intralot’s £243.1m evoke takeover
Court sanction hearing next before evoke delists from London
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The hit
Bally’s Intralot shareholders have voted 99.585% in favour of buying William Hill & 888 owner evoke, according to Yogonet. The £243.1m ($324.7m) deal now needs a court sanction hearing, expected in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027, before evoke delists from the London Stock Exchange.
Why it matters
The vote clears one of the last hurdles before completion. Evoke began looking for a buyer in December 2025 after the UK government announced higher online gambling taxes; Remote Gaming Duty then rose from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026. Evoke said it expected the tax changes to have a significant effect on its finances & accelerated closures across the William Hill retail estate. Debt at both companies remains a watchpoint as the merger heads for the finish line.
The record
| Offer price | 52p per evoke share (Bally’s Intralot) |
|---|---|
| Evoke shareholder vote | 99.63% in favour, published 17 August 2026 |
| Evoke debt, H1 2026 | £1.89bn owed (evoke) |
| Bally’s Intralot net debt, H1 2026 | over £1bn owed (Bally’s Intralot) |
| William Hill shop closures | 200 more shops confirmed, March (evoke) |
What happens next
Regulatory clearances, including the court sanction hearing, are the remaining steps before the deal completes, according to Yogonet.
18+. Betting involves risk. If gambling is a problem for you or someone close to you, help is available.
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