Up to 200 William Hill betting shops across the UK could soon shut their doors, placing around 1,500 jobs at risk, according to parent company Evoke plc. The move comes as the bookmaker reviews trading costs and prepares for potential changes to government gambling taxes.
Branches in Hampshire, Kent, and along the South Coast are among those being assessed. Local staff have been told that final decisions will follow a nationwide performance review expected to conclude later this year.
Evoke’s announcement follows months of speculation about whether higher operating costs, coupled with declining in-person betting activity, could trigger a new wave of high-street consolidation. Analysts say the latest plans could mark one of the largest retrenchments by a major bookmaker in more than a decade.
A Shift to Online Betting
High-street betting has faced a steady decline as more customers move to mobile and web-based platforms. According to the UK Gambling Commission’s 2024 Industry Statistics, remote betting now generates a significant share of the country’s gambling revenue, outpacing traditional retail for the third consecutive year.
The closure of physical venues accelerates the move toward digital choice, where some players are now exploring options like betting sites not on gamstop. These platforms, which operate outside the UK’s self-exclusion system, offer users a wider variety of payment methods, game types, and sign-up options. Their increasing visibility reflects a consumer demand for broader market alternatives as high-street options diminish.
High Streets Face a Fresh Setback
Across towns in Portsmouth, Maidstone, and Southampton, betting shops have long played a role in maintaining consistent footfall. Their removal could leave yet more empty storefronts on high streets already under pressure from online retail and changing consumer habits.
Local business forums in Kent have previously noted that a single bookmaker outlet can generate hundreds of weekly visits, drawing passing trade to nearby food and convenience stores. Without that flow of regular customers, smaller independent shops risk a further drop in visibility and revenue.
Regional councils are also monitoring how closures could affect community regeneration schemes, many of which depend on occupied commercial space to attract further investment. Empty units often take months to re-let, adding to the sense of decline in smaller town centres.
Tax Pressure and Industry Response
Evoke’s review coincides with reports that the government may raise the rate of remote gaming duty as part of wider fiscal reform. Industry outlet iGaming Business reported that the company is considering shutting roughly 9–15 percent of its retail estate if those increases materialise.
The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that higher taxes and tighter margins could make it harder for licensed operators to compete, potentially driving some customers toward offshore or unregulated markets. The BGC cites estimates suggesting that billions of pounds are wagered each year on unlicensed websites, outside the protections of UK law.
Looking Ahead
If the proposed closures proceed, the total number of William Hill betting shops in the UK could fall below 1,100, less than half the number operating ten years ago. The shift mirrors wider economic changes on the high street, where banks, travel agents, and now betting shops are rapidly disappearing as services move online.
Industry observers expect the coming year to bring a renewed focus on mobile apps, digital wallets, and customer-retention tools as bookmakers compete for attention in a saturated online market. For towns across southern England, the consequences may be more tangible: another familiar storefront disappearing, another piece of daily routine lost to the screen.
