The Evoke-owned brand William Hill has announced its decision to withdraw from 13 countries, effective December 2. This move will impact 10 markets in Africa, leaving many customers without access to their betting services.
From December 2, residents in the following countries will no longer be able to place bets with William Hill: Angola, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Vietnam.
William Hill has clarified that any open bets will be settled as usual up until December 2. However, bets that were originally scheduled to be settled after that date will be voided, and customers will receive refunds to their accounts.
Customers will be able to log in to their accounts until January 5 to withdraw their remaining funds. After that date, account login details will become inactive, and users who wish to retrieve their funds will need to contact the customer service team directly.
In 2022, Evoke licensed the 888 brands to the Africa-facing joint venture 888Africa to serve regulated online markets across the continent. Evoke retains a stake in this venture, which aims to enhance online gaming offerings in Africa.
The joint venture is led by Christopher Coyne, the former head of competitive intelligence at Paddy Power, who is now the CEO of 888Africa. Andrew Lee, the former managing director of online operations at William Hill, serves as the chief product officer, bringing extensive industry experience to the team.
This withdrawal from various global markets comes on the heels of Evoke’s warning regarding potential retail store closures in the UK. The company has indicated it may close up to 200 William Hill retail shops if the government increases gambling tax in the forthcoming November budget, which is set for discussion next Wednesday. Evoke is reportedly considering the closure of up to 15% of its UK William Hill locations, which could put approximately 1,500 jobs at risk.
An Evoke spokesperson stated, “As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of various 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.”
The withdrawal of William Hill from these 13 markets, particularly in Africa, marks a significant shift for the brand as it faces challenges in maintaining its global presence. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, both players and operators must navigate these changes carefully to adapt to the future of the betting industry.
Source: igamingbusiness.com
