Evoke plc Company Profile – Brands, Licenses, and Global Presence
About Organisation
Brief Overview
Evoke plc, formerly known as 888 Holdings PLC, is a multinational betting and gaming group listed on the London Stock Exchange. Following its 2022 acquisition of William Hill’s non-US operations, the company now combines a significant retail betting footprint with a diverse portfolio of online brands.
| Current Name | Evoke plc (since May 2024) |
| Former Name | 888 Holdings PLC |
| Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange (LSE: EVOK) |
| Employees | 11,000+ (as of 2022) |
| Key Markets | UK, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Romania |
Mission and Business Focus
Evoke operates a mix of B2C and B2B business models, focusing on regulated market growth, proprietary technology, and responsible gambling.
| Online Gaming | 888casino, 888poker, 888sport, Mr Green, William Hill (Online) |
| Retail Betting | 1,300+ William Hill shops across the UK |
| B2B Platform | Dragonfish (poker & bingo white-label solutions) |
| Africa Focus | 888AFRICA (JV), including BetLion acquisition |
| US (exit 2024) | SI Sportsbook / Casino (sold to Hard Rock Digital – exit finalising in 2024) |
Company History & Founders
Year Founded and Evolution
Founded in 1997 as Virtual Holdings Limited, the company was among the early pioneers in online gambling. Its 2022 acquisition of William Hill International marked a major turning point, greatly expanding its retail and digital footprint.
| 1997 | Founded by two sets of Israeli brothers |
| 2002 | IPO on London Stock Exchange |
| 2022 | Acquired William Hill’s non-US business |
| 2024 | Rebranded to Evoke plc |
Key People / Founders
| Avi & Aaron Shaked | Original vision and capital investment |
| Ron & Shay Ben-Yitzhak | Technical founders of initial platform |
| Per Widerström | CEO (appointed 2023) |
Licensing & Regulatory Info
Active Gaming Licences
Evoke plc holds multiple national licences, enabling legal operation across core European and regulated international markets.
| United Kingdom | UKGC Licence |
| Gibraltar | B2C and B2B Licences |
| Italy | AAMS Licence |
| Spain | DGOJ Licence |
| Denmark | Danish Gambling Licence |
| Romania | ONJN Licence |
| United States | State-level licences (in exit process) |
Regulatory Bodies & Compliance Measures
| UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | AML, safer gambling, marketing compliance |
| Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner | Player protection, licensee audits |
| Other EU national regulators | Local licensing and operational compliance |
The group has received multiple fines, including a £9.4m UKGC fine (2022) and £2.9m Gibraltar settlement (2023), related to AML and KYC failings.
Offices & Headquarters
Main Office Locations
| Registered Office | 601/701 Europort, Gibraltar |
| UK Offices | London, Leeds |
| EU Offices | Ceuta, Bucharest, Malta, Sofia |
| Tech Hub | Tel Aviv, Israel |
Global Reach
Evoke operates in over 150 countries, with a core commercial focus on regulated European markets. It exited the US market in 2024 to consolidate strategic growth in its most profitable regions.
Business Partnerships
Platform and Software Providers
| In-House Studio | Section8 (exclusive games) |
| Third-Party Games | Evolution Gaming, Reevo, others |
Operator & Affiliate Networks
| B2B White Label | Dragonfish platform for external bingo/poker operators |
| African JV | 888AFRICA, including BetLion |
| Exited JV | Sports Illustrated (US market – now sold to Hard Rock) |
Contact Details
| Company Address | 601/701 Europort, GX11 1AA, Gibraltar |
| Website | evokeplc.com |
| Investor Listing | LSE: EVOK |
