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Bally’s Intralot has cleared another major condition for its takeover of William Hill and 888 owner evoke, with investors overwhelmingly backing the transaction.
The deal now depends mainly on regulatory approvals and a court hearing before the companies can target completion between late 2026 and early 2027.
Good to Know
- 99.585% of Bally’s Intralot votes supported the evoke acquisition.
- Evoke shareholders already approved the deal with 99.63% support in August.
- Evoke would leave the London Stock Exchange once the transaction completes.
Shareholders Clear Another Deal Condition
Bally’s Intralot investors approved the transaction at an extraordinary general meeting on September 18. Only 0.415% of votes opposed it.
The result follows the evoke vote in August, when 99.63% supported the acquisition.
Bally’s Intralot announced its firm offer in June, valuing evoke at about $325 million based on a reference price of 52 pence per share. The deal would bring William Hill, 888 and other evoke brands into the wider Bally’s Intralot group.
A court sanction hearing still needs to approve the scheme of arrangement. Timing also depends on outstanding regulatory clearances, with completion currently expected in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027.
Debt Remains Part of the Deal Story
The acquisition comes with large debt loads on both sides.
Evoke reported about $2.5 billion in debt for the first half of 2026. Recent analyst estimates published by evoke put expected year end net debt near $2.45 billion based on current exchange values.
Bally’s Intralot also reported more than $1.3 billion in net debt for the first half, adding leverage to a transaction that management says can still support its longer term strategy.
Bally’s Corporation holds a 58% interest in Bally’s Intralot following the 2025 transaction that combined Intralot with Bally’s International Interactive business.
Evoke started reviewing strategic options after higher UK gambling taxes added pressure to its finances. Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% on April 1, 2026, directly increasing costs for online casino activity.
The tax increase also contributed to further cuts across the William Hill retail estate, with evoke confirming another 200 betting shop closures in 2026.
Evoke remains listed on the FTSE SmallCap and FTSE All Share indices for now. The business traded as 888 Holdings before adopting the evoke name in 2024.
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