William Hill to Exit 13 Markets and Flags UK Shop Risks
William Hill is preparing to significantly reduce its international presence as it moves to leave 13 global markets beginning 2 December, marking one of the brand’s largest strategic withdrawals in years. Evoke, the company’s parent group, announced the decision as part of a broader reassessment of its worldwide operations, including growing financial pressures in the UK.
The list of markets affected by the withdrawal includes Angola, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Vietnam. Customers within these jurisdictions will see access to William Hill’s betting services removed in stages, with the company outlining precise deadlines for bet settlement and account access.
Updated Rules for Bets and Account Balances
In its communication, William Hill confirmed that all wagers due to settle on or before 2 December will be processed normally. Any bets set to conclude after that date will not stand; instead, they will be voided and automatically refunded. Customers will be able to log into their accounts until 5 January, giving them time to withdraw any remaining funds.
Beginning 6 January, player logins will no longer be available. After account access is disabled, anyone who still has money in their balance will need to contact the operator’s support team directly to arrange a withdrawal. William Hill has not outlined any additional exceptions or alternative procedures beyond these instructions.
Evoke’s Positioning and Its Separate African Venture
Even as William Hill exits these territories, Evoke is not stepping away from Africa entirely. In 2022, the group licensed the 888 brand to 888Africa, a joint venture designed to support the growth of regulated online gambling across the continent. Evoke retains a stake in that business.
Leadership for the joint venture includes Christopher Coyne, the former head of competitive intelligence at Paddy Power, who now serves as chief executive. Andrew Lee, previously William Hill’s online managing director, oversees product development as chief product officer. The existence of this venture illustrates that the company is not abandoning Africa altogether but adjusting its approach.
Tax Pressures Put UK Retail Shops Under Threat
The timing of William Hill’s international exits aligns with rising domestic concerns. Evoke recently cautioned that up to 200 William Hill betting shops in the UK may need to close if the government proceeds with a tax increase expected to be outlined in the upcoming budget. A closure of that scale would represent around 15% of the company’s retail network and could impact an estimated 1,500 jobs.
An Evoke spokesperson commented: “As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of different overall tax scenarios on our UK operations. This includes the difficult but necessary consideration for shop closures.
“We are mindful of potential tax increases in the forthcoming budget which would impact investment in the UK and drive more customers to the black market.”
These concerns highlight the financial strain the company anticipates within its home market. Taken together with the confirmed international withdrawals, the developments point to a period of substantial realignment for William Hill’s operations both globally and domestically.
Source:
William Hill Confirms Major Market Exits and Warns of UK Impact, LCB.org, November 24, 2025.