Evoke owned betting giant William Hill has announced a major retreat from international operations after confirmation of its withdrawals from 13 countries starting on the 2nd December. It was announced that 10 of these markets are in Africa which marks one of the company’s most significant regional retreats in recent years.
People that hold accounts in Angola, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Vietnam will no longer be able to place bets with the betting company after this date. According to Hills, any open bets that are due to settle before 2 December will be processed as normal, while wagers settling after that deadline will be voided and funds returned. Customers will still be able to access their accounts until 5th January 2026 to withdraw any balances but after 6th January login credentials will be deactivated and therefore users will need to contact customer support to reclaim any remaining funds.
This move comes in the wider context of Evoke’s restructuring strategy. Back in 2022 the company licensed the 888 brand to 888Africa which was an Africa-focused joint venture set up to operate in regulated markets across the continent. Evoke retains a stake in the venture, which is led by ex-Paddy Power competitive intelligence chief Christopher Coyne, with former William Hill online managing director Andrew Lee overseeing product development.
While the African withdrawal appears to streamline Evoke’s market presence, it also coincides with rising uncertainty in the UK retail sector and their presence there. Evoke recently warned that up to 200 William Hill betting shops could close which is around 15% of its UK retail estate. This is if the UK government proceeds with a gambling tax increase expected to be outlined in next week’s November budget. As many as 1,500 jobs could be at risk.
A spokesperson from Evoke stressed that the company is evaluating several tax scenarios and their potential impact on operations, adding that increased taxation could discourage investment and unintentionally push more consumers toward unregulated gambling providers also known as the black market.
Our view is that William Hill’s retreat highlights the intense regulatory and economic pressures reshaping the betting industry on a global scale. While companies must adapt to stay financially viable, abrupt market exits can disrupt customers and reduce competition, especially in emerging regions where regulated operators are needed most. As well as this the threat of UK shop closures underscores the delicate balance governments must strike, tax policy should protect consumers without pushing legitimate operators out of the market. To conclude, stability and clear regulation rather than constant reactive shifts will best serve both businesses and bettors.