Evoke PLC Might Shut Down 200 Betting Shops : PMPMedia.io

By Arijit Roul - 16 Oct, 2025 More about the author

The UK government could increase gambling taxes in November’s Budget. Reports to The Sunday Times of the companies’ plans. It owns 888 and William Hill has 1,300 stores in Great Britain. Between 120 and 200 of those stores are at risk of closure. This is 9% to 15% of their total outlets. Entain CEO Stella David warned about shop closures last week. Her company became the first major operator to discuss potential shutdowns. The November Budget will likely include gambling tax increases. The Treasury needs to fill a £30bn gap in public finances. Gordon Brown supports these tax changes. 101 Labour MPs also back the proposal.

Evoke told NEXT.io they are preparing for different tax scenarios. The company analyses how tax rises might affect UK operations. Their spokesperson explained the situation clearly. “We recognise potential tax increases could come in the forthcoming Budget. These changes would reduce UK investment. More customers might turn to illegal gambling sites. “Our planning includes various tax scenarios for UK operations. We must consider difficult options, including shop closures.” NEXT.io learned that no decisions are final yet. The actual tax rates will determine any closure plans.

1,500 Workers Could Lose Their Jobs

The Sunday Times reported the higher closure figure. 1,500 employees might face redundancy across the country. Rachel Reeves hinted at tax changes in a recent interview. The Treasury still discusses tax harmonisation through official consultation. Three different gambling taxes would merge into one rate. Horse racing groups oppose this change strongly. Bookmakers and racing have been traditional partners.

The Treasury spokesman responded to the newspaper’s questions. “We consult on aligning online betting with other online gambling forms. This reduces bureaucracy for operators. Tax rates won’t necessarily increase or decrease. We welcome everyone’s views on this matter.”