UK online slots keep growing despite 40% duty: Entain gaming up 17%, Evoke revenue down 7%
Six months after Remote Gaming Duty jumped to 40%, the two biggest UK-listed operators reported very different quarters. Entain, which owns Coral and Ladbrokes, said on 15 October 2026 that online gaming revenue in the UK and Ireland grew 17% in the three months to September. Evoke, owner of William Hill, 888 and Mr Green, reported on 23 October that group revenue fell 7% to £406 million.
By Ryan Jessop. Published .
Key points
- Entain’s UK and Ireland online revenue rose 14% in Q3 2026, ahead of expectations; online gaming grew 17% and sports 3%.
- Group revenue at Entain rose 2% at constant currency, held back by Brazil.
- Evoke’s Q3 revenue fell 7% to £406m after it closed about 270 UK betting shops.
- Evoke urged the government not to raise gaming taxes further; its sale to Bally’s Intralot is expected to complete around the turn of the year.
- The Budget on 28 October left online duty at 40% but raised Machine Games Duty.
- Entain UK&I online
- +14%
- Entain UK&I online gaming
- +17%
- Evoke Q3 revenue
- £406m, −7%
- Evoke shop closures
- About 270
- Online duty
- 40% since April
Entain: online gaming leads
Entain’s third-quarter trading update showed UK and Ireland online net gaming revenue up 14%, with gaming (casino and slots) up 17% and sports betting up 3%. The company said UK and Ireland outperformed its expectations and reiterated full-year guidance. Group revenue rose a more modest 2% at constant currency, weighed down by Brazil ahead of a ban announced there on 25 September. Coral and Ladbrokes, two of the three offers we list, are Entain brands.
Evoke: shops and tax bite
Evoke’s revenue fell 7% to £406 million for the quarter, which it put down mainly to closing around 270 UK betting shops, about 70 in late 2025 and 200 William Hill shops from May 2026, plus customer-friendly sports results. Stripping those effects out, it described revenue as broadly stable. Ahead of the Budget, Evoke urged the government to “carefully consider any further increases” to gaming taxation. Its acquisition by Bally’s Intralot remains on track, with completion expected late in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early in 2027.
| Measure | Entain | Evoke |
|---|---|---|
| UK brands | Coral, Ladbrokes | William Hill, 888, Mr Green |
| Reported | 15 October 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
| Headline | UK&I online revenue +14% | Group revenue £406m, −7% |
| Online gaming | UK&I +17% | Not split in headline |
Why online slots are still growing
The rise in Remote Gaming Duty to 40% raised operators’ costs, not players’ stakes, and UK slots demand has held up. Operators have responded mainly by trimming marketing and cutting costs elsewhere. At the same time, rules introduced over the past two years, including the £5 and £2 stake limits and the 10x cap on bonus wagering, have made offers simpler and more comparable.
What it means for you
Strong online results make it more likely that the big brands keep running generous free spins offers. But promotions change quickly, especially with the free spins tax rules being rewritten from April 2027. Compare current offers on our free spins page, and use the spin calculator to see what any batch of spins is really worth.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; your casino may run a lower RTP. Offer terms dated 9 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Coral and Ladbrokes?
Entain plc, whose UK and Ireland online gaming revenue rose 17% in the third quarter of 2026.
Who owns William Hill?
Evoke plc, which also owns 888 and Mr Green and is being acquired by Bally’s Intralot.
Did the 40% duty make free spins offers worse?
Operators have mostly absorbed it through lower marketing and other costs. Offers vary by brand, so compare spin value and terms.
Related pages
Sources
- Gambling.com: Entain Q3 2026 trading update (opens in a new tab)
- SiGMA: Entain Q3 revenue and Brazil (opens in a new tab)
- Gambling.com: William Hill owner Evoke reports 7% Q3 revenue fall (opens in a new tab)
- Gaming.net: Evoke Q3 revenue falls 7% as Bally’s Intralot deal stays on track (opens in a new tab)
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