Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, has announced plans to close approximately 270 betting shops across the United Kingdom as part of a strategic review to address its financial difficulties. The closures come in response to a staggering £549.1 million in pre-tax losses for the fiscal year 2025, a significant increase from £220.9 million in losses the previous year. This downturn is largely attributed to recent UK tax hikes, which have put additional strain on the already debt-laden company. The UK government has raised the remote gaming duty from 21% to 40%, effective April 2025, and introduced a new 25% online sports betting duty set to begin in 2027. These changes are expected to increase Evoke's duty costs by up to £135 million annually. Per Widerstrom, chief executive of Evoke, stated that these tax increases represent a fundamental shift in the economics of their largest market, prompting the company to take decisive actions to safeguard long-term shareholder value. The shop closures are likely to lead to hundreds of job losses, although the exact number has not been disclosed. Evoke is also in talks for a potential takeover by Greek lottery and gaming firm Bally’s Intralot, valuing the company at £225.3 million.