William Hill parent company Evoke reports improved performance as gaming drives gains and retail returns to growth

Shares in William Hill's parent company Evoke rose sharply on Tuesday after it reported an improved performance in a trading update, although it was gaming rather than sports betting which provided the growth.

Evoke's share price ended the day 13 per cent higher at 69.5p after the company, which also has the 888 and Mr Green brands, reported group revenue growth of approximately five per cent year-on-year for the second quarter of 2025, driven by online growth of approximately six per cent.

William Hill's betting shop estate returned to growth during the period following the rollout of 5,000 new gaming machines which was completed in March.  

Evoke trading update main points

• Group revenue growth of around five per cent in the second quarter
• Online growth during the period of around six per cent
• Evoke's retail estate returns to growth
• First half revenue growth of around three per cent
• Adjust core earnings expected to be in the range of £163-167 million

As a result, revenue growth in the first half of the year was around three per cent, driven by double-digit gaming growth. Sports betting performance was impacted in the second quarter by the "tougher prior year comparative" with the Euros football tournament having taken place last year.

Evoke said that "robust" cost control and improved marketing returns were expected to deliver adjusted core earnings in the range of £163-167 million in the first half, a 43 per cent increase.

As a result, the company said there was no change to its expectations for the year, reiterating its confidence in achieving its target of revenue growth of five to nine per cent.

Evoke chief executive Per WiderstromCredit: 888 Holdings

Evoke's chief executive Per Widerstrom said he was pleased to report an improvement in the company's growth rate during the second quarter, which marked its second strongest quarterly revenue performance since the beginning of 2023, "a particularly encouraging result given the tough comparator from lapping the Euros".

He added: "Alongside the improved second-quarter performance, we continue to transform the group’s capabilities for the mid- and long-term. We are strengthening our competitive advantages and better aligning our leading brands and products to a clearer customer value proposition."

Evoke will give more details of its progress and plans when it publishes its interim results next month.

David Brohan, gaming and leisure analyst at stockbrokers Goodbody, described the announcement as "another broadly positive update from Evoke".

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