Recently, William Hill announced that it will withdraw from the betting markets of 13 countries starting December 2, including 10 major African markets, marking a strategic contraction for the company. At the same time, its retail operations in the UK are also facing risks of shop closures due to a potential increase in gambling taxes, creating broad impacts across the industry.
Details of Market Withdrawal
William Hill will exit 13 countries, including Angola, Kenya, and Vietnam—10 of which are in Africa. This is no minor adjustment: beginning December 2, residents of these countries will no longer be able to place bets on the platform. All unsettled bets will be processed normally up until that date. Any bets set to settle afterward will be cancelled, with funds refunded to user accounts.
Funds Withdrawal Guidelines
Customers should take note that they can still log in and withdraw their funds until January 5. After this date, login access will be disabled, and users will need to contact customer support to retrieve any remaining balance. This arrangement ensures a smoother transition and avoids abrupt disruptions.
Reasons Behind the Move and Its Wider Impact
Behind this large-scale withdrawal is the mounting pressure on UK retail operations. Evoke, William Hill’s parent company, warned that if the UK government increases gambling taxes in next week’s budget, up to 200 shops may be forced to close, affecting around 1,500 jobs. A company spokesperson stated they are assessing the tax implications and may have no choice but to close stores—an outcome that could push more customers toward the black market.
