Q3 2026 trading update
Evoke Plc reported Q3 2026 revenue of £406 million, a 7% decrease on a reported basis or 2% on a like-for-like constant currency basis, impacted by customer-friendly sports results and the closure of approximately 270 retail shops. The recommended acquisition by Bally's Intralot remains on track, with completion expected in late Q4 2026 or early Q1 2027, pending remaining conditions and regulatory approvals. The company highlighted resilience and a focus on profitability and cash generation amidst increased gaming duties, urging the UK Government to consider the impact of further taxation.
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evoke (LSE: EVOK), one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies with internationally renowned brands including William Hill, 888 and Mr Green, today announces a trading update for the three months ended 30 September 2026 (“Q3-26” or the “Period”) and an update on the recommended acquisition by Bally’s Intralot S.A (“Bally’s Intralot”).
Trading update (unaudited)
Group revenue during Q3-26 was £406m, a decrease of 7% on a reported basis or 2% on a like-for-like constant currency1 basis excluding the impact of approximately 270 fewer retail shops compared with the prior-year period. Particularly customer-friendly sports results in the beginning of the football season were an approximately 1-2ppt headwind to year-over-year revenue growth on a Group basis, meaning revenue was broadly stable on a normalised basis2.
Recommended acquisition by Bally’s Intralot
The acquisition remains on track, with both sets of shareholders having passed the required resolutions at the relevant shareholder meetings, and the majority of the required regulatory approvals having now been received. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions, completion is expected to be late in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early in the first quarter of 2027.
Per Widerström, CEO of evoke, 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.
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.”
Notes
2 Normalised basis reflects like-for-like constant currency growth. Like-for-like adjusts the prior year for the effect of closed stores, and normalised reflects expected sports margins year-over-year to remove the impact of customer-friendly or operator-friendly results
Find out more at: https://www.evokeplc.com
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