William Hill to exit a number of major African markets in December

William Hill to exit a number of major African markets in December

Summary

Evoke-owned William Hill will withdraw from 13 countries from 2 December 2025, including 10 African markets. From that date customers in the listed jurisdictions will no longer be able to place bets; open bets will be settled up to 2 December, with bets due after that voided and refunded. Account logins will remain available until 5 January for withdrawals, after which players must contact customer service to retrieve remaining funds.

Evoke has previously licensed the 888 brand to the Africa-facing joint venture 888Africa and retains a stake in that venture. The announcement follows Evoke’s warning it may close a large number of UK retail William Hill shops if a gambling tax rise is imposed in the forthcoming budget.

Key Points

• William Hill will exit 13 countries from 2 December 2025, 10 of which are in Africa.
• Countries affected include: Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia — plus Bolivia, Nepal, Nicaragua and Vietnam.
• Open bets will be settled up to 2 December; bets due after that will be voided and refunded.
• Customers can log in until 5 January to withdraw funds; from 6 January logins will stop and withdrawals will require contacting customer support.
• Evoke has an existing Africa strategy via a stake in 888Africa (the 888 brand licensed to the joint venture).
• The withdrawal coincides with Evoke’s warning it may close up to 200 UK William Hill shops if the government raises gambling tax — potentially affecting ~1,500 jobs.
• Evoke cites potential tax increases driving customers to the black market as a reason for considering retail closures.

Context and Relevance

The move marks a significant strategic retreat for a major international sportsbook into selected regulated markets and partnerships. For operators, regulators and affiliates, this signals shifting priorities: consolidation of risk, greater focus on regulated partnerships (eg 888Africa), and sensitivity to taxation and cost pressures in core markets like the UK. For African markets specifically, the exit could reduce competition and consumer choice, and may accelerate opportunities for regional or local operators to pick up market share.

Why should I read this?

Short version: this is a big deal for the betting market. William Hill pulling out of multiple African countries and linking the decision to wider cost pressures — including possible UK shop closures if taxes rise — tells you where margins and regulatory risk are pushing operators. If you follow iGaming strategy, regulation or market shifts in Africa or the UK, this saves you a skim through the noise.

Source

Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/strategy/william-hill-exit-major-africa-market-december/