More than one in five William Hill betting shops forced off high street in a year as punishing tax rises bite

MORE than one in five William Hill betting shops have been forced off the high street in a year. Bookies say they are having to close branches as punishing tax rises bite — and add that new PM Andy Burnham shows no sign of stepping in. William Hill owner Evoke cut its shops from 1,302 in June 2025 to 1,024 this June Credit: Alamy Bookies say they are having to close branches as punishing tax rises bite Credit: Alamy William Hill owner Evoke cut its shops from 1,302 in June 2025 to 1,024 this June. Some 200 shut in May alone. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Evoke, which also owns online gaming site 888, revealed it had taken a £46million hit from higher gambling duties. Underlying earnings fell 10 per cent to £150.2million in the six months to June 30. READ MORE ON BETTING SHOPS A 25 per cent online ­betting duty, covering all sports except horse racing, comes in next year. The Sun’s Save Our Bets campaign has urged ministers not to raise betting duties at the Budget. Betting and Gaming Council boss Grainne Hurst said: “Ministers should be backing jobs, high streets and British sport. “Not making it harder for regulated businesses to survive.” Most read in Money Evoke is now preparing for a £243.1million takeover by Greek gambling group Bally’s Intralot. The companies said conditions made consolidation inevitable. Comment now