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The debt-laden gambling group behind William Hill is gearing up to shut about one in ten of its betting shops in the new year as it battles to reverse its fortunes.
Bosses at Evoke, the FTSE 250 company that acquired William Hill for £2 billion in 2022, are understood to be eyeing a raft of closures as part of a review of its high street bookmakers and ahead of expected tax rises in Rachel Reeves’s budget on November 26.
The final number of stores due to close has not yet been decided. However, one senior industry figure said that 120 shops are to be shuttered. Other sources said the number of closures could be nearer 200. At the higher level, about 1,500 jobs could be lost.
The potential closures would equate to between 9 and 15 per cent of William Hill’s estate of about 1,300 shops.
Betting industry executives at other firms warned that William Hill’s plans could be replicated across the industry if Reeves hits the sector with tax rises after pressure from former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Brown claimed the gambling industry was “undertaxed”, and that slapping levies on the sector was “by far the most cost-effective way” to address a “social crisis”, with a growing need to take children out of poverty.
Formerly known as 888 Holdings before rebranding itself as Evoke in 2024, the Gibraltar-domiciled and London-headquartered company has been trying to turn itself around after years of losses.
Its share price has fallen by almost 30 per cent over the past 12 months and is down more than 83 per cent over the past five years. The company posted a pre-tax loss of £78 million for the first half of 2025. It has debts totalling £1.8 billion against a market value of about £210 million. Much of that debt is linked to the takeover of William Hill.
A spokesman for Evoke said it was “continuously reviewing and adapting our shop portfolio to ensure it aligns with our long-term strategy for sustainable, profitable growth”.
Bosses are also understood to be looking at “scenarios” ahead of the budget, meaning the number of stores to close could vary according to the measures unveiled by Reeves.
Ministers have been consulting on plans to change the way in which gambling is taxed in a bid to reflect how the industry has changed with the explosion of digital betting.
The Evoke spokesman added: “As a regulated and licensed UK operator, we are also mindful of potential tax increases in the forthcoming budget on top of the rising costs.
“As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of different tax scenarios on our UK operations. This includes the difficult but necessary consideration for further shop closures.”
Last month, more than 100 Labour MPs wrote to Reeves, urging her to raise gambling taxes and use the funds to fight child poverty in Britain. This followed a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank, which claimed that taxing the gambling industry harder could raise as much as £3 billion for the public purse.
The prospect of a November tax raid has sparked an explosion of outraged lobbying from gambling companies, which disputed the IPPR’s report, pointing to the economic contribution made by gambling to the UK economy and arguing that tax rises would harm jobs and investment and drive customers towards black market betting.
Stella David, the chief executive of Ladbrokes’ parent company, Entain, said earlier this month that it would have to close betting shops and reroute investment to other markets in the event of tax rises.
Increased national insurance contributions levied on employers by the chancellor in April, alongside a 6.7 per cent rise in the minimum wage, have already raised costs for businesses in sectors such as retail and hospitality.
Evoke said in March that it was facing a £10 million hit from tax rises, and was planning to strip out between £15 million and £25 million in costs to offset the impact.
Retail revenues were down 2 per cent over the first half of 2025 but returned to growth in the second quarter, Evoke said.
Its spokesman added: “We are fully committed to continuing to improve the performance in our retail business, and were pleased to report a return to revenue growth in the second quarter this year, driven by the successful implementation of new technology across the estate, our initiatives and people.”
A spokesman for the Treasury said: “We are consulting on bringing online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy. It is not about increasing or decreasing tax rates, and we welcome all views.”
Bosses at Evoke, the FTSE 250 company that acquired William Hill for £2 billion in 2022, are understood to be eyeing a raft of closures as part of a review of its high street bookmakers and ahead of expected tax rises in Rachel Reeves’s budget on November 26.
The final number of stores due to close has not yet been decided. However, one senior industry figure said that 120 shops are to be shuttered. Other sources said the number of closures could be nearer 200. At the higher level, about 1,500 jobs could be lost.
The potential closures would equate to between 9 and 15 per cent of William Hill’s estate of about 1,300 shops.
Betting industry executives at other firms warned that William Hill’s plans could be replicated across the industry if Reeves hits the sector with tax rises after pressure from former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Brown claimed the gambling industry was “undertaxed”, and that slapping levies on the sector was “by far the most cost-effective way” to address a “social crisis”, with a growing need to take children out of poverty.
Formerly known as 888 Holdings before rebranding itself as Evoke in 2024, the Gibraltar-domiciled and London-headquartered company has been trying to turn itself around after years of losses.
Its share price has fallen by almost 30 per cent over the past 12 months and is down more than 83 per cent over the past five years. The company posted a pre-tax loss of £78 million for the first half of 2025. It has debts totalling £1.8 billion against a market value of about £210 million. Much of that debt is linked to the takeover of William Hill.
A spokesman for Evoke said it was “continuously reviewing and adapting our shop portfolio to ensure it aligns with our long-term strategy for sustainable, profitable growth”.
Bosses are also understood to be looking at “scenarios” ahead of the budget, meaning the number of stores to close could vary according to the measures unveiled by Reeves.
Ministers have been consulting on plans to change the way in which gambling is taxed in a bid to reflect how the industry has changed with the explosion of digital betting.
The Evoke spokesman added: “As a regulated and licensed UK operator, we are also mindful of potential tax increases in the forthcoming budget on top of the rising costs.
“As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of different tax scenarios on our UK operations. This includes the difficult but necessary consideration for further shop closures.”
Last month, more than 100 Labour MPs wrote to Reeves, urging her to raise gambling taxes and use the funds to fight child poverty in Britain. This followed a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank, which claimed that taxing the gambling industry harder could raise as much as £3 billion for the public purse.
The prospect of a November tax raid has sparked an explosion of outraged lobbying from gambling companies, which disputed the IPPR’s report, pointing to the economic contribution made by gambling to the UK economy and arguing that tax rises would harm jobs and investment and drive customers towards black market betting.
Stella David, the chief executive of Ladbrokes’ parent company, Entain, said earlier this month that it would have to close betting shops and reroute investment to other markets in the event of tax rises.
Increased national insurance contributions levied on employers by the chancellor in April, alongside a 6.7 per cent rise in the minimum wage, have already raised costs for businesses in sectors such as retail and hospitality.
Evoke said in March that it was facing a £10 million hit from tax rises, and was planning to strip out between £15 million and £25 million in costs to offset the impact.
Retail revenues were down 2 per cent over the first half of 2025 but returned to growth in the second quarter, Evoke said.
Its spokesman added: “We are fully committed to continuing to improve the performance in our retail business, and were pleased to report a return to revenue growth in the second quarter this year, driven by the successful implementation of new technology across the estate, our initiatives and people.”
A spokesman for the Treasury said: “We are consulting on bringing online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy. It is not about increasing or decreasing tax rates, and we welcome all views.”
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They are trying to make Reeves think again. We will see more of this before the budget. Shaving a few % of the SP's is not making enough.
Very sad to say other firms will follow exes going through the roof takings going through the floor looked at the figures one day just as racing was starting 150 bets total stake 400 quid sad to say the race to race 50 punter has long gone.and before anybody asks the fobts have had there day. Just had a lovely pork dinner with a couple of glasses of merlot. Hope you are all well. Ronnie.
Best news from 'billy' for a long while. I hope more of the same from their counterparts. There are too many high street bookies for the "service" they are licensed to provide ie take bets, and none will take a proper bet without due diligence.
Most bookies on the high street are there solely to compete with one another for the players or addicts of fobts - nothing else. Even the use of the toilet will elicit a 1st degree inquest prior.
Most bookies on the high street are there solely to compete with one another for the players or addicts of fobts - nothing else. Even the use of the toilet will elicit a 1st degree inquest prior.
Boylev want lot more shops in UK.....they will take them
Second covid lock down killed the shops, imo it's not scare mongering, 100's of shops will go.
Opening longer hours, with no business there, the last few years was mental. Not self regulating the fobts, poor senior management making poor decisions, how they implemented proof of income, providing ID, it's all come home to roost.
Opening longer hours, with no business there, the last few years was mental. Not self regulating the fobts, poor senior management making poor decisions, how they implemented proof of income, providing ID, it's all come home to roost.
I've not entered a bookie shop for over 10 years, and I'm a punter. The clientele and the staff in the shops are so different to those since the late 80's or 90's. Most are nearly totally clueless (fobt custodians) eg Paddy in Morden.
I'm embarrassed to be seen in a present bookie because of fobt or to be associated with the regular fobt players / addicts.
I'm embarrassed to be seen in a present bookie because of fobt or to be associated with the regular fobt players / addicts.
Dealer. May I ask you what's the answer to save the shops or is it to late.
Hope you are well.
Hope you are well.
son of a good mate of mine just opened a pub,in centre of what was once deep punting country with a corals next to pub, and been holding all sorts of events,football on TV,rangers days when they play suns,free pool etc ,yesterday they advertised it as RACING DAY,racing on all TV screens,free pool, raffles etc, all because there was no EPL or CHAMPIONSHIP football,that's racing these days just a substtute for things that are far more popular/profitable with consumers etc ,etc
I've retired Ronnie, took my pension early, doing great.
I think they are gone in their present state.
Go betting terminals and fobts only, horse racing is gone imo, ideally go tote only, do away with papers, live pictures, screens,open them 9.00 till 6.30.
A bit radical but would slash expenses, staffing costs and might give them a few years
I think they are gone in their present state.
Go betting terminals and fobts only, horse racing is gone imo, ideally go tote only, do away with papers, live pictures, screens,open them 9.00 till 6.30.
A bit radical but would slash expenses, staffing costs and might give them a few years
even on course maj bet on their phones now/or tote so if UK went to french model and had betting terminals in cafes, pubs,shopping centres etc,would people be attracted to them like they are to buying lottery tkts, even if only to do tote style once in a lifetime exotic bets like in USA,ozz,far east etc
Merkur slots - open 24/7. They have 220+ sites and are looking for more, so probably more than happy to take over many of the leases if there are a sufficient number of degenerate addicts in the locality.
Spoylesports signed a parnership with the Irons.
Could be Championship next season at this rate.
Commercial officer wants to enhance the customer experience. Try getting young people to work in Betting shops that seem midly interested in Sport?
Good luck with that venture.
Looking for 200 shops so they could well take up the Billy space left behind. They have a loyalty card(who doesn't) to create an omnipresent experience for the punter (who is already being forced into producing docs to prove they have the wherewithall to afford their gambling experience).
On the face of it, it seems bonkers to take over where others are in retreat and not knowing the extent of tax increases (should they appear).
Could be Championship next season at this rate.
Commercial officer wants to enhance the customer experience. Try getting young people to work in Betting shops that seem midly interested in Sport?
Good luck with that venture.
Looking for 200 shops so they could well take up the Billy space left behind. They have a loyalty card(who doesn't) to create an omnipresent experience for the punter (who is already being forced into producing docs to prove they have the wherewithall to afford their gambling experience).
On the face of it, it seems bonkers to take over where others are in retreat and not knowing the extent of tax increases (should they appear).
'ronnie rails', hope you're good.
Bookies must eg:-
1) take bets from recreational (horseracing) punters even for as little as £100 regularly. This is vitally important for high street bookies. The online competition is too insurmountable to ignore or compete with; punters are lazy unless there's an advantage to use shops.
2) employ staff who are knowledgeable of the products; friendly and able to relate to customers; make shops more user-friendly eg occasional free coffee (spend dependent perhaps eg Waitrose), allow the use of toilets eg major supermarkets, as most shops on the high streets do not now, to passers-by who could be potential customers; I'd been known to go come out with a bag of shopping.
In truth there is still too many bookies on the high street despite the recent trend of shop closures all chasing the lazy, easy, assured and predictable profits from fobt. I'm afraid more shop closures are inevitable, just the sign of the time, and not bookie specific.
I believe high street bookies will need to provide something different that non-bookie shops in the high street do not.
Bookies must eg:-
1) take bets from recreational (horseracing) punters even for as little as £100 regularly. This is vitally important for high street bookies. The online competition is too insurmountable to ignore or compete with; punters are lazy unless there's an advantage to use shops.
2) employ staff who are knowledgeable of the products; friendly and able to relate to customers; make shops more user-friendly eg occasional free coffee (spend dependent perhaps eg Waitrose), allow the use of toilets eg major supermarkets, as most shops on the high streets do not now, to passers-by who could be potential customers; I'd been known to go come out with a bag of shopping.
In truth there is still too many bookies on the high street despite the recent trend of shop closures all chasing the lazy, easy, assured and predictable profits from fobt. I'm afraid more shop closures are inevitable, just the sign of the time, and not bookie specific.
I believe high street bookies will need to provide something different that non-bookie shops in the high street do not.
You're only saying exactly the same thing you've said dozens of times before.
I think everyone got the message years ago so what's the point in repeating yourself again.
I think everyone got the message years ago so what's the point in repeating yourself again.
Impossible.
Thanks for talking time to reply in my honest view the shops need 50 or hundred pounds race to race punters but sadly there is none about.
Ronnie 6th
Thanks for talking time to reply in my honest view the shops need 50 or hundred pounds race to race punters but sadly there is none about.
Ronnie 6th
once you've left the betting shop like I have never been in one for 20 yrs and seems 99% of those on here have,no earthly reason ever to go back in to one and no idea why any newby punter would
that's the point unless Ronnie is employing a trained barista customers would feel insulted at been offered a cup of coffee unless it came with a dozen options a dozen shots options,Italian biscotti or homemade carrot cake 
A Ladbrokes manager told me yesterday that bets put on over the counter are double result but if done on the machine official result only.
Second Again. And not bog.
Hope you are well.
Ronnie.
Hope you are well.
Ronnie.
A £100/race punter would lose about £10-20 per race.
How long before an affordability check?
If savings don't count not many would be able to lose at that rate.
How long before an affordability check?
If savings don't count not many would be able to lose at that rate.
Hey Ronnie, you will know roughly how much a betting shop has to make on a yearly basis to cover all expenses, correct me if my anaalysis is wrong.
SAY A SHOP TAKES £2.5 MILLION A YEAR OTC- Thats £50K per week - AND RUNS AT 15% - PROFIT £375000
Annual wages will be £110k mininimum? Staff and cleaner.
Annual Rent and Rates will be £65k minimum?
Media rights, is it £40k per shop annually?
Running costs, gambling commission, sky, tv licences, electriciy, water, newspapers, stationary etc £40k minimum a year?
Levy(10%) & Gross Profits (15%) tax on OTC business, so 25% OF £375k = £94.5K
Central costs to cover middle management, HR, central office staff, central office rent and rates, £40K
Employer NI conntributions of about £12k
I'm sure there are other costs I cannot think of.
All of a sudden costs are exceeding profits!
If the GP tax is increased then those costs go up, to offset this bookmakers will try to incease margins, ie no BOG and betting to bigger over-rounds
Hence shops need the additinal income of FOBTS, but from what I see, they've had the day, and an increase in FOBT tax will drive them further in to decline. The average shop will make £50k a year profit off Fobts and pay £10k of that in tax - that leaves £40k.
Even the FOBT's don't save an average shop.
THE SHIP HAS LONG SAILED IMO, AND IF REEVES INCREASES TAX ON SHOPS THEN THEIR DEMISE WILL BE RAPID
SAY A SHOP TAKES £2.5 MILLION A YEAR OTC- Thats £50K per week - AND RUNS AT 15% - PROFIT £375000
Annual wages will be £110k mininimum? Staff and cleaner.
Annual Rent and Rates will be £65k minimum?
Media rights, is it £40k per shop annually?
Running costs, gambling commission, sky, tv licences, electriciy, water, newspapers, stationary etc £40k minimum a year?
Levy(10%) & Gross Profits (15%) tax on OTC business, so 25% OF £375k = £94.5K
Central costs to cover middle management, HR, central office staff, central office rent and rates, £40K
Employer NI conntributions of about £12k
I'm sure there are other costs I cannot think of.
All of a sudden costs are exceeding profits!
If the GP tax is increased then those costs go up, to offset this bookmakers will try to incease margins, ie no BOG and betting to bigger over-rounds
Hence shops need the additinal income of FOBTS, but from what I see, they've had the day, and an increase in FOBT tax will drive them further in to decline. The average shop will make £50k a year profit off Fobts and pay £10k of that in tax - that leaves £40k.
Even the FOBT's don't save an average shop.
THE SHIP HAS LONG SAILED IMO, AND IF REEVES INCREASES TAX ON SHOPS THEN THEIR DEMISE WILL BE RAPID
turned their back on regular punters years ago, put all their eggs in the FOBT basket. now that's drying up they've no need for shops anymore, all the punters are long gone. reaping what they sowed.
Betting shops are desolate spaces.
They used to be part of the community.
The truth is that Hills and others WANT to get rid of any staff with long service.
They used to be part of the community.
The truth is that Hills and others WANT to get rid of any staff with long service.
The Goddess.The average otc for the week in dark and depressed Darlo shops is 15 k sad but true
Hope you are well.
Ronnie
Hope you are well.
Ronnie
if you go into a bookie nowadays there's a very good chance you'll be the only customer in there, one guy behind the counter getting paid £12 an hour for watching Youtube on his phone.
for most bookies now ,only races without enhanced places are BOG, on here we,re knee deep in the game and how many times a week do you benefit from a BOG horse winning ?,the reason supposed shrewdies take a price is because they think its a bookies Rick not expecting to benefit for BOG,
industry prices are a con
maj of early prices set below expected sp
boosts ,just lowest price boosted to where bookmakers think sp will be,
lots of people now bet as close to off time as they can,dozens of horses now put up by tipsters with a following as a price Rick and go off at 30,50,70%,double the price they thought was a Rick,especially on the longer price runners,that's without betfair sp
industry prices are a con
maj of early prices set below expected sp
boosts ,just lowest price boosted to where bookmakers think sp will be,
lots of people now bet as close to off time as they can,dozens of horses now put up by tipsters with a following as a price Rick and go off at 30,50,70%,double the price they thought was a Rick,especially on the longer price runners,that's without betfair sp
A great difference now to even ten years ago being there is no independent input to the official SP. Bookies just do as they want and my guess is they finesse prices on the run in or after: - put it this way, you won't know the SP until the industry liabilities are weighed. Contrast with BSP.
industry sp's follow here.
if a horse goes 5.1 to 4.9 here there's not a bookie in the world still showing 4/1
if a horse goes 5.1 to 4.9 here there's not a bookie in the world still showing 4/1
Rails bookies have one person taking bets, and another behind the curtain pressing buttons on the Botfair machine.
Leif..
Plenty of red flashing lights at York the weekend and not just on the danc floor.
Hope you are well.
Ronnie.
Plenty of red flashing lights at York the weekend and not just on the danc floor.
Hope you are well.
Ronnie.
Good hope they all shut wont take a bet want all the mugs on the terminals been fleecing all the mugs for years hope they tax them for the full 40% c@nts
10/1 firms 16s plus 20/1 firms 30s plus on here come racing ? no the value is on here !
Oct 13, 2025 -- 8:50AM, FOYLESWAR wrote:
10/1 firms 16s plus 20/1 firms 30s plus on here
Oct 13, 2025 -- 8:50AM, FOYLESWAR wrote:
10/1 firms 16s plus 20/1 firms 30s plus on here
value was on here when liquidity was decent. Any proper size bet these days would mean chasing the price down to under the books quote a lot of the time
no bookie was interested in £50 a race billy bunters when addicts were betting £100 a spin on roulette
If impossible had the money to open a chain of bookies he would be bankrupt within 12 months. They are not in the business of giving value to anyone that has the slightest clue about betting.
There is room to shut some shops, on the high street I go to within 400 metres there are 2 Boyles,2 bfred a ladcrooks and a Billys.
used to be,nip in
ladcookes to Nick the racing post after last race,
nip in Fred's to lift the days racecard off the counter
nip in hills to see if bloke would make you a coffee
ladcookes to Nick the racing post after last race,
nip in Fred's to lift the days racecard off the counter
nip in hills to see if bloke would make you a coffee
just thinking if Billys, Lads, 365 and the others close loads of shops then racing post sales will fall
Will they be able to keep going or will RP close down
Will they be able to keep going or will RP close down
RP been up for sale a few times.
Hit an all time daily sales record of 93K copies some 20 years ago. Probably around half that now.
Hard to see these latest generations buying a hard copy.
All on their phones at the track.
Hit an all time daily sales record of 93K copies some 20 years ago. Probably around half that now.
Hard to see these latest generations buying a hard copy.
All on their phones at the track.
I think I unwittingly retained a small plastic pen once, but then, who hasn’t. Sry, maybe did so more than once. Feel terrible! 
howard Joined: 09 Mar 03
Replies: 1626113 Oct 25 13:02
If impossible had the money to open a chain of bookies he would be bankrupt within 12 months. They are not in the business of giving value to anyone that has the slightest clue about betting.
Do you not think his idea of staff serenading you into the khazi's, before you walk out having turned your nose up at the super boost and grumbling about not getting any free spins, has any merit?
Replies: 1626113 Oct 25 13:02
If impossible had the money to open a chain of bookies he would be bankrupt within 12 months. They are not in the business of giving value to anyone that has the slightest clue about betting.
Do you not think his idea of staff serenading you into the khazi's, before you walk out having turned your nose up at the super boost and grumbling about not getting any free spins, has any merit?
and never felt any remorse when they,d give me a dairy and a handful of quality street from behind the counter
Being given items and stealing them are Worlds apart
think the ladies in laddies had a soft spot for me got me my own key cut for the toilet, felt like grouty on porridge
I was in Brighton today and went into a PP shop (to watch a race in which I had a small interest) in busy shopping area . There were two staff and a fat zero customers. Never fails to amaze me.
swhame innit...i used to enjoy lifting the safes in the early hrs of a sunday morning after the grand national.
used to pray a outside won
used to pray a outside won
The big question for the betting shops is 'what exactly would they offer to any of us' in future if they stayed open?
Anything worth having for us?
Anything worth having for us?
True, though you could also nip into the local library for that 
people here talking about boylespsorts and half welcoming them? they are worse that hills ever were. they are by far the worst company both online and shops. and thats from experience.
They are the only firm doing BOG in shops on all races so far as I know.
"True, though you could also nip into the local library for that "
The three libraries within 5 miles of me have all been shut. More chance getting a bet on !
"The three libraries within 5 miles of me have all been shut. More chance getting a bet on !
you,ll no when Macy d,s has shut the streets will be flowing with rivers of pish
Oct 14, 2025 -- 1:34PM, uptheirons wrote:
To minimal stakes Captain
Yeah I guess, and if they do win for some remarkable reason they are rarely a bigger price than the odds you took..
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