Operator urges UK Government to “carefully consider” any further tax increases ahead of the forthcoming Autumn Budget, having closed 270 retail shops in the past year

London-listed betting and gaming operator evoke has reported a 7 per cent fall in group revenue to £406 million for the third quarter of 2026.

In a trading update this morning, evoke said that reported revenue was down year-on-year, primarily due to retail shop closures and customer-friendly sports results.

On a like-for-like constant currency basis, underlying revenue was down by 2 per cent, after excluding the impact of around 270 fewer retail shops compared with the prior-year period.

The company said that particularly customer-friendly sports results in the beginning of the football season caused an approximate 1-2 percentage point headwind to year-on-year revenue growth on a group basis, meaning revenue was broadly stable on a normalised basis.

evoke CEO Per Widerström commented: “On an underlying basis the business continues to show resilience and reflects our continued emphasis on profitability and cash generation following the substantial increases in gaming duties, particularly in the UK. 

“The closure of 270 shops over the past year shows the real impact on jobs and livelihoods from higher industry taxation, and we urge the UK Government to carefully consider any further increases ahead of its forthcoming Autumn Budget.”

The company also provided an update on its proposed acquisition by Bally’s Intralot, which remains on track and is expected to complete late in Q4 2026 or early in Q1 2027, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions.

Both sets of shareholders haved passed the required resolutions at the relevant shareholder meetings, and the majority of the required regulatory approvals have now been received. 

“We remain focused on disciplined execution and operational efficiency as we progress towards completion of the acquisition, which continues to progress as planned towards completing in late Q4 2026 or early Q1 2027,” added Widerström.

Shares in evoke plc (LSE:EVOK) were trading 0.48 per cent lower at 41.90 pence per share in London following the announcement Friday.