William Hill owner Evoke showing green shoots of recovery after slow start to 2025

William Hill's parent company Evoke warned last month that 2025 got off to a slow start but there were green shoots of recovery as it released a trading update for the first quarter of the year on Friday.

Evoke's share price plummeted in March when the company warned revenue growth in the first three months of the year would be below the group's full-year target of five to nine per cent.

Friday's trading update reported revenue of £437 million for the quarter, representing growth of one per cent.

However, Evoke, whose brands also include 888 and Mr Green, said it expected revenues to return to stronger year-on-year growth and be consistent with its full-year target. It added that as of April 22, year-to-date revenue growth had improved to approximately four per cent.

Evoke chief executive Per WiderstromCredit: Evoke plc

Adjusted earnings were "significantly higher" year-on-year at more than £330m, which chief executive Per Widerstrom said reflected "the group’s significantly more efficient operating model and our clear focus on creating value through sustainable profitable growth".

Revenue in the UK and Ireland online division was down one per cent, impacted by the introduction of safer gambling measures, while revenues in betting shops fell by six per cent.

Widerstrom said the performance in those two areas was "behind where we wanted to be" but the company had been moved swiftly to address that and had been seeing "stronger trends" in April.

He added Evoke was "building momentum in the right areas of the business", pointing to the international division where revenue grew by 11 per cent.

Widerstrom added: "We remain highly confident in our market position and the growth profile of the business.

"We are moving decisively and at pace to position Evoke for long-term success and to drive significant value, and I look forward to providing further updates about our progress as the year progresses."

David Brohan, gaming and leisure analyst at stockbrokers Goodbody, said the company had already flagged the first quarter would be weak, but the acceleration in the second quarter, as well as the reiteration of guidance for the full year, "should be well received".

Evoke's share price was up 0.3p to 48.25p on Friday morning.

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