Bally's Reports Strong Q2 Revenue Growth Despite UK Gaming Duty Hike

Bally's Corporation posted revenue of $792.23 million for the second quarter of 2026, a figure that translates to £484.98 million and reflects a 20.5 percent rise compared with the $657.53 million recorded in the same period of 2025. The company highlighted that expansion in its UK-facing operations played a central role in delivering those results, even as the business absorbed the effects of higher remote gaming duty rates that took effect on April 1, 2026.

The duty adjustment lifted the rate from 21 percent to 40 percent, producing a $39 million negative impact on B2C EBITDAR for the quarter. Despite that headwind, adjusted EBITDAR climbed 8.3 percent to $187.52 million, showing that operational improvements elsewhere helped stabilize overall performance.

UK Operations Drive Momentum

Constant-currency revenue from the UK market grew 11.6 percent during the quarter, with the pace quickening further to approximately 13 percent by July. Those figures illustrate how the company's British-facing portfolio continued to expand even after the tax change, supported by broader product offerings and customer engagement initiatives that offset the increased regulatory cost.

Observers note that the UK segment's resilience helped cushion the broader business against the duty increase, allowing Bally's to maintain positive momentum across its international footprint. Data from the period shows that growth in online and retail channels within the UK contributed measurable gains, demonstrating the market's continued appeal for established operators.

Financial Metrics and Year-on-Year Comparison

Revenue figures reveal a clear upward trajectory when set against the prior year's results, with the 20.5 percent increase marking one of the stronger quarterly performances in recent reporting cycles. Adjusted EBITDAR growth of 8.3 percent further underscores that core earnings power remained intact after accounting for the tax-related charge. The $39 million EBITDAR reduction tied directly to the duty hike stands as a discrete line item that management isolated in its commentary, separating it from underlying business trends.

Strategic Move Toward Evoke Acquisition

Bally's continues to advance its planned acquisition of Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, in a transaction valued at more than £3 billion. Regulatory approvals remain pending, with the process expected to extend through the remainder of 2026 and into subsequent periods. The deal would significantly enlarge Bally's presence in the UK and international markets, combining complementary digital and retail assets under a single corporate structure.

Company statements indicate that preparatory work for integration planning has already begun, even while clearance procedures continue. Industry reports from sources such as Nevada Gaming Control Board filings show that Bally's has maintained compliance standards across its U.S. operations, providing a foundation that could support expanded regulatory scrutiny during the Evoke review. The acquisition timeline aligns with broader sector consolidation trends observed in both North American and European gaming sectors.

Context Around September 2026 Developments

By September 2026, attention within the sector had shifted toward the status of pending approvals for large-scale mergers, including the Bally's-Evoke combination. Updates released during that month confirmed that both companies were supplying additional documentation requested by oversight bodies, a step that typically precedes final determinations. Those procedural milestones reflect standard practice for cross-border transactions of this scale and do not indicate any deviation from the original timeline outlined earlier in the year.

Conclusion

The Q2 2026 results position Bally's to enter the second half of the year with measurable revenue gains and a clear path toward completing its largest proposed deal to date. The UK business's ability to accelerate growth after the April duty change demonstrates operational flexibility, while the pending Evoke acquisition offers potential scale benefits once regulatory processes conclude. Figures released for the quarter provide a factual baseline against which future performance can be measured as the company navigates both tax adjustments and strategic expansion.