Evoke, the heavily indebted gambling group that owns William Hill in the UK as well as the 888 brand, has put itself up for sale as it grapples with rising costs and regulatory pressure.
The company said it is undertaking a review of its strategic options, which includes the possibility of selling the business. Investment banks Morgan Stanley and Rothschild have been appointed as joint financial advisers to oversee the process, although Evoke cautioned that there is no certainty any transaction will result or what form a deal might take.
The move comes just weeks after Evoke warned it would close around one in ten of its betting shops next year as part of efforts to stabilise its finances. The group has struggled to reverse declining performance while carrying a significant debt burden.
Pressure on the business has intensified following changes announced in the recent Budget, which sharply increased taxes on online gambling. From April 2026, the rate of remote gaming duty will rise from 21 per cent to 40 per cent, while tax on online sports betting will increase from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.
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