William Hill to exit 13 international markets in December

• William Hill confirms withdrawal from 13 online gambling markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• The operator plans to cease services starting 2 December 2025.
• Players will retain access to their accounts and funds until 5 January 2026.

William Hill, owned by Evoke, is set to exit 13 international online gambling markets from 2 December 2025. The decision covers markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including countries such as Nigeria and Kenya.

After this date, residents in these countries won’t be able to engage in William Hill’s offerings and services.

The full list of territories:

• Angola
• Bolivia
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Kenya
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• Republic of Congo
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Somalia
• Vietnam

Operational changes

The operator is citing operational changes as the reason for exiting these regions. According to official William Hill communications, players in the affected countries will maintain access to their accounts and withdraw their funds until 5 January 2026.

This move involves the closure of markets across three continents, marking a significant realignment of William Hill’s international presence. Ten of the 13 markets to be exited are located in Africa, reflecting the operator’s strategic shift away from certain emerging jurisdictions.

Players currently active in these regions have been advised to manage their accounts promptly to ensure seamless access to their remaining balances. William Hill has stated explicitly:

“Your balance is safe with us. Until the 5th of January 2026, you’ll still be able to login to your account, which will allow you to withdraw your funds,” a company spokesperson said.

This consolidation likely aims to focus resources on core regions or to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks in these diverse markets.

Industry analysts suggest that such market exits could impact local gambling ecosystems by reducing choices for operators and players.

William Hill background

William Hill is a British gambling company founded in 1934 by William Hill himself. Initially, the business operated as a postal and telephone betting service, exploiting a legal loophole that allowed credit betting during a period when physical betting shops were technically illegal.

Over time, William Hill expanded its operations, pioneering fixed odds betting on football in 1944 and establishing a reputation for honesty and reliability. The company opened its first licensed high street betting shop in 1966 and grew to become the UK’s largest bookmaker, with thousands of betting shops primarily located in the UK, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, and Jersey.

Alongside its established retail presence, William Hill was among the first major bookmakers to launch an online betting platform in 1998, expanding its product offering to include online casino, poker, and bingo.

Today, the company operates globally under the ownership of Evoke plc, focusing on regulated markets in the UK, Europe, and select international territories, providing a blend of retail and digital betting services headquartered in London.

Source: William Hill customer comms