Evoke H1 2026: Gaming Duty Rise Bites, Bally's Intralot Deal On Track
Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, reported flat group revenue of £887.5million for the first half of 2026, up 2% like-for-like, but adjusted EBITDA fell 10% to £150.2m after a £46m increase in UK gaming duties, according to the company's H1 2026 interim results presentation published this week.
UK Online Growth Offsets International Declines
Evoke's UK&I online division delivered revenue of £348.1m, up 4%, with adjusted EBITDA up 28% to £77.0m, which the company attributed to continued strength in William Hill gaming and successful mitigation of the duty increase.
International online revenue fell 2% to £293.8m, with EBITDA down 20% to £68.1m, as growth in Italy and Denmark was offset by declines elsewhere and higher local gaming duties.
Retail like-for-like revenue rose 4%, and EBITDA rose 5% to £31.1m, following the closure of around 270 betting shops across the fourth quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026.
Bally's Intralot Acquisition Progressing
Evoke confirmed that its recommended acquisition by Bally's Intralot remains on track, with no change to the expected completion timeline.
The Board agreed terms with Bally's Intralot on June 5, 2026, following a strategic review of alternatives, and shareholders are scheduled to vote at a court meeting and general meeting on August 17, 2026.
Completion is still expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027, subject to shareholder, regulatory, and other approvals.
