(AsiaGameHub) –   Bally’s Intralot and evoke have pushed back the deadline for talks regarding a potential takeover, though the specific reason for the extension hasn’t been confirmed.

Rumors had been circulating for some time that Bally’s Intralot was planning to acquire evoke at a price of 50p per share.

When the initial announcement of the possible deal was confirmed in late April, Bally’s Intralot had the option to extend the offer beyond the first deadline of 18 May 2026. evoke has since agreed to that request.

Bally’s Intralot now has until 17:00 BST on 8 June 2026 to confirm whether it intends to move forward with the acquisition.

However, this deadline can also be extended with the consent of the operator behind William Hill, 888 and Mr Green.

Any offer from the Athens-listed company is subject to standard conditions and approvals, and Bally’s Intralot also reserves the right to adjust the offer’s terms—including price, the form and mix of consideration, and the transaction structure.

“This is an opportunity we are pursuing with conviction.”

Robeson Reeves, Chief Executive Officer at Bally’s Intralot

Robeson Reeves, Chief Executive Officer at Bally’s Intralot, stated when the potential offer was first announced: “We have built a business with a margin profile that stands out in this industry. evoke has the scale.

“We see a compelling opportunity to bring our operating model to a significantly larger business, and the potential to transform its financial performance through massive synergies that we are uniquely positioned to deliver. This is an opportunity we are pursuing with conviction.”

evoke has been conducting a strategic review of its operations since December last year. During the operator’s recent FY2025 earnings call, Group CEO Per Widerström noted that discussions with Bally’s Intralot about a possible offer “remain active”.

Attractive markets

While the timeline for the evoke deal has been extended, Bally’s Intralot released its preliminary Q1 2026 results, with group revenue rising to €268.1m compared to the same period last year (Q1 2025: €95.6m), and adjusted EBITDA increasing to €100.2m (Q1 2025: €30.2m).

During Bally’s Intralot’s FY2025 earnings call last month, Reeves explained the markets that caught the company’s attention when the opportunity to make an offer for evoke arose.

The CEO acknowledged that due to market dynamics, Italy wouldn’t have initially stood out to Bally’s Intralot, but it does hold appeal for the firm. Romania and Spain were also highlighted.

evoke operates the 888casino, 888sport, 888poker and William Hill brands in Italy and Spain, while the group also offers 888 and Winner in Romania.

Reeves said at the time: “Romania is an attractive market and was on the list. There’s also a layering aspect—they’re a solid player in Spain, and we already have a presence there, so there’s logic to that.

“With any M&A opportunity, you have to look at everything holistically. We need to take all appropriate steps. I see some of these as ways to speed up our growth. Building an international footprint like theirs would take many years at that scale, so we’ll review all opportunities. It’s a sensible fit.”