William Hill Confirms Major Market Exits and Warns of UK Impact

William Hill is preparing to retreat from a wide swath of international territories, marking one of its most substantial pullbacks in recent years. The Evoke-owned operator plans to wind down operations in 13 jurisdictions beginning 2 December, with 10 of those located across Africa. The move represents a notable reorientation of the company’s global footprint at a time when its parent group is also assessing pressures closer to home.

According to the announcement, users based in Angola, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Vietnam will lose access to William Hill betting services starting on that date. Wagering activity will be phased out in stages, with clear timelines set for how accounts, bets, and withdrawals will be handled.

Timeline for Customer Accounts and Bet Settlement

William Hill stated that all open bets scheduled to settle on or before 2 December will be honoured in the normal way. However, any wagers set to conclude after that cut-off will instead be voided and automatically refunded. Customers will still be able to access their accounts until 5 January, allowing them to withdraw any remaining balances.

From 6 January, player logins will be deactivated. At that point, anyone who still has funds in their account will need to reach out directly to the operator’s support team to arrange a payout. The company has not indicated any additional compensation or special procedures beyond these steps.

Context: Evoke’s Broader African Strategy

The strategic withdrawal does not represent an across-the-board retreat from Africa. In 2022, Evoke opted to license the 888 brand to 888Africa, a joint venture created to expand regulated online gambling across the continent. Evoke maintains a stake in that business.

Leadership for the venture includes well-known industry figures: Christopher Coyne, formerly Paddy Power’s head of competitive intelligence, serves as chief executive, while Andrew Lee, once William Hill’s online managing director, holds the role of chief product officer. The coexistence of these two strategies suggests Evoke is refining — rather than abandoning — its approach to African markets.

Possible UK Closures Amid Tax Concerns

The company’s decision to exit these international regions coincides with domestic pressures. Evoke recently cautioned that it may be forced to shutter as many as 200 William Hill shops in the UK if the government proceeds with a tax increase expected to be outlined in the upcoming budget.

The potential closures would amount to roughly 15% of its UK estate, with around 1,500 jobs at risk. In a statement, an Evoke spokesperson explained: “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.”

Source:

“William Hill to exit a number of major African markets in December”, igamingbusiness.com, November 20, 2025