
KEY POINTS
- William Hill will close 200 UK betting shops amid mounting debt and regulatory pressure.
- The £2 cap on fixed-odds betting terminals wiped out key revenue streams.
- Industry insiders warn that 2,000 to 3,000 more closures could follow.
The UK's once-booming high street gambling industry is shrinking fast. William Hill's parent company, Evoke, has confirmed plans to close around 200 betting shops across the country as part of a cost-cutting effort to stabilise its debt-laden business. It is the latest sign of strain for traditional bookmakers.