Evoke shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the company's proposed £243 million acquisition by Bally’s Intralot. At a recent meeting, 99.63% of the votes supported the takeover, with only 0.37% opposing it. In addition to this, a separate court proceeding held on the same day showed strong backing, as 30 out of 31 participating shareholders were in favor of the scheme. The final decision from the High Court is still pending.
If the acquisition is finalized, Evoke, the parent company of established brands like William Hill, 888, and Mr Green, will become part of Bally’s Intralot. This merger is projected to position the new entity as a leading player in the UK gambling market in terms of client base and revenue generation, with completion anticipated by late 2026 or early 2027, following the procedures of the Gibraltar Companies Act 2014.
The acquisition plan was announced in June and involves a share exchange where Evoke shareholders will receive 0.537 new Intralot shares for each Evoke share owned, translating to an approximate value of €0.60 per share based on Intralot's share price of €1.12 at the time of the announcement.
Mark Summerfield, Chairman of Evoke, noted that the board considered various options in light of soaring UK gambling taxes, including the increase in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40%, and ultimately endorsed the acquisition as the best path forward.
Bally’s Intralot's shareholder approval follows the release of its Q2 2026 financial results, which revealed a significant 20.5% year-on-year revenue increase, climbing from €568 million to €684 million. Additionally, CEO Robeson Reeves confirmed that post-acquisition, there are no plans to divest Evoke or its specific assets.
