Evoke-owned William Hill is preparing to exit 13 countries starting December 2. This decision will affect several of its African markets, following a similar announcement last month regarding about 200 shops in the UK.
### What Should African Players Know
The company has confirmed that customers 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 after that date.
According to a notice on William Hill’s website, the transition will be straightforward. Bets settling on or before December 2 will be paid out as normal. Bets settling after will be voided, with funds returned to customers’ accounts. Players can log in and withdraw their money until January 5.
After January 6, logins will be disabled. Anyone with a balance will need to contact customer support for withdrawals.
### Rethinking Business
This change occurs as Evoke is reevaluating aspects of its business. In 2022, the company licensed the 888 brand to 888Africa, a joint venture focused on regulated African markets. Evoke retains a stake in the project.
The venture is led by Christopher Coyne, former head of competitive intelligence at Paddy Power, while Andrew Lee, former head of William Hill’s online division, oversees the product.
The timing of these market exits coincides with Evoke’s concerns regarding its UK retail presence. The company has warned that hundreds of its shops might close if the government increases gambling taxes as speculated in the upcoming budget.
Reports indicate that about 15% of its stores are at risk, potentially endangering 1,500 jobs.
An Evoke spokesperson stated, “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.”
The statement also mentioned that the operator is “mindful of potential tax increases” that could “impact” domestic investors and drive more customers to the black market.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
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