Gambling stocks weekly (26–30 October): European market analysis & trends

Seven of the ten stocks rose as the FTSE 100 gained 0.37%, in a week when the UK Budget raised machine games duty to 25%, below the 40% some in the industry had feared, and Italy’s Cabinet approved a €700 million contribution from gambling.

European gambling stocks rose in the week to 30 October 2026. Seven of the ten stocks European Gaming tracks gained, while the FTSE 100 added 0.37%. Evoke was added to the tracker this week and led the gainers with a 10.69% rise to 46.6p. Rank Group rose 6.60% to 84p and Entain rose 3.97% to 465.9p after Chancellor John Healey raised machine games duty to 25% from 20% in the 28 October Budget. Among the losers, Playtech fell the most, down 4.45% to 356.2p.

In Brazil, Justice Luiz Fux called a public hearing on the betting ban for 3 November. He did not rule on the request to suspend the ban.

This weekly market analysis does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research.

The week at a glance: 10 European gaming stocks, 26–30 October

Top movers last week

Evoke (LON: EVOK), +10.69% to 46.6p, was the strongest of the ten in its first week on the tracker. On Wednesday afternoon the Evoke share price was up nearly 3.5% at 44.5p, as gambling stocks rose after the Budget. In its Q3 trading update a week earlier, the William Hill owner reported a 7% fall in third-quarter revenue. It also said its takeover by Bally’s Intralot was on track to complete in late Q4 2026 or early Q1 2027.

The Rank Group (LON: RNK), +6.60% to 84p, rose for a third week. It closed 11.66% higher at 88.1p on Wednesday, the day of the Budget. On Thursday, Rank said the duty rise would add about £9 million a year to its costs before mitigation, and about £2 million in the year to 30 June 2027. The shares fell 1.48% that day. On Friday they fell 3.23%, when 15.2 million shares changed hands, compared with about 3 million on each of the two days before.

Entain (LON: ENT), +3.97% to 465.9p, also rose for a third week. The Entain share price was up more than 6.5% at 482.5p on Wednesday afternoon, then gave back part of that gain by Friday. The Ladbrokes and Coral owner said the higher duty would add about £25 million a year to its UK and Ireland retail costs before mitigation. It kept its 2026 guidance unchanged.

FDJ United (EPA: FDJU), +3.54% to €21.34, recovered most of the previous week’s 4.32% fall. It rose on four of the five days, after hitting a 52-week low of €19.45 on 22 October. On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley cut its target to €23 from €24 and kept its equal weight rating.

Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT), +3.12% to $82.59, rose for a second week. Three brokers cut their Flutter share price targets ahead of its third-quarter update on 4 November, and all three kept buy ratings. UBS lowered its target to $130 from $140 on Tuesday, citing uncertainty about competition and promotional spending in the US.

Lottomatica (BIT: LTMC), +3.10% to €25.92, rose for a second week. It bought back 204,141 shares between 19 and 23 October at an average of €24.0754, for about €4.9 million. That took its treasury holdings to 8.545% of ordinary shares. On Wednesday, Italy’s Cabinet approved a 2027 budget that includes €700 million from the gambling sector.

Sportradar (NASDAQ: SRAD), +0.67% to $12.03, barely moved ahead of its third-quarter results on 3 November. On Monday, Stifel cut its Sportradar share price target to $17 from $18 and kept its buy rating. 

Evolution (STO: EVO), -2.04% to SEK 824.20, gave back part of the 5.18% rise in the Evolution share price that followed its third-quarter report. On Monday, Pareto Securities raised its target to SEK 820 from SEK 800 and kept its hold rating. Pareto called the results broadly in line with expectations and said Brazil’s ban was expected to weigh on fourth-quarter revenue. Evolution also bought back 464,569 of its own shares between 19 and 23 October.

Betsson (STO: BETS-B), -2.62% to SEK 96.45, gave back part of the previous week’s 7.14% gain. Most of the fall in the Betsson share price came on Tuesday, when the shares dropped 3.33% to SEK 95.85.

Playtech (LON: PTEC), -4.45% to 356.2p, fell after two weeks of gains, with no trading news to explain the drop in the Playtech share price. The shares fell on three of the five days, most heavily on Monday, when they lost 2.47%.

What drove the moves: News and regulation

In the UK, the Budget raised machine games duty to 25% from 20% from 1 April 2027. The new rate applies to machines with stakes over £1 or prizes over £100, and the change will be legislated in the Finance Bill 2026-27. The rise was below the 40% some in the industry had feared, and sports betting stocks Entain and Evoke rose on the day, along with Grosvenor Casinos owner Rank. 

The week before, Flutter had announced up to 1,400 UK and Ireland job cuts in response to last year’s Budget, which raised remote gaming duty to 40% from 21%.

Italy’s Cabinet approved its 2027 budget on 28 October. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said gambling would contribute €700 million. The bill now goes to Parliament.

Brazil’s betting ban stayed in place, with licensed sites offline for a fourth week.

• On 26 October, Justice Fux called a public hearing for 3 November in the case the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) brought against Provisional Measure 1,394. Twenty-six bodies are due to take part, including the Finance Ministry, 10 football clubs, and the Brazilian Football Confederation.
• From 9 November, the measure goes to the top of Congress’s agenda.

London was firmer. The FTSE 100 closed Friday at 10,729.78, up 0.37% on the week, and the FTSE 250 rose 0.9%.

Earnings and corporate calendar

• Lottomatica’s board approves its third-quarter results on 2 November, with a conference call on 3 November.
• Sportradar reports third-quarter results on 3 November, before the US market opens.
• Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court holds its public hearing on the betting ban on 3 November.
• Flutter publishes its third-quarter update on 4 November.
• Brazil’s provisional measure starts to block Congress’s agenda on 9 November.
• Betsson’s second €0.33 dividend instalment has a record date of 11 November.

Analyst sentiment: Ratings and price targets

There were no confirmed rating changes among the ten gaming stocks this week. Brokers moved targets in both directions and kept their ratings:

• Stifel cut its Flutter target to $125 from $133 on 26 October and kept buy.
• UBS cut its Flutter target to $130 from $140 on 27 October and kept buy.
• BTIG cut its Flutter target to $95 from $110 on 29 October and kept buy.
• Stifel cut its Sportradar target to $17 from $18 on 26 October and kept buy.
• Pareto Securities raised its Evolution target to SEK 820 from SEK 800 on 26 October and kept hold.
• BNP Paribas raised its Evolution target to SEK 890 from SEK 885 on 26 October and kept neutral.
• Morgan Stanley cut its FDJ United target to €23 from €24 on 27 October and kept equal weight.

What to watch this week

• Whether Justice Fux rules on suspending Brazil’s betting ban after the 3 November hearing.
• Third-quarter results from Lottomatica, Sportradar, and Flutter between 2 and 4 November.
• Which gambling measures Italy’s budget bill contains once it reaches Parliament, and how the Lottomatica share price responds.
• How Entain and Rank plan to offset the duty rise before it takes effect on 1 April 2027.

FAQs

Which European gambling stocks moved the most in the week to 30 October 2026?

Seven of the ten gaming stocks rose. Evoke rose the most, up 10.69% to 46.6p, followed by Rank Group at +6.60% and Entain at +3.97%. The Playtech share price fell the most, down 4.45% to 356.2p.

How did the UK Budget affect European gambling stocks?

UK retail gambling stocks rose on 28 October after the Chancellor raised machine games duty to 25% from 20%. That was a smaller increase than some had feared. Entain put the extra cost at about £25 million a year and Rank at about £9 million, both before mitigation.

Which sports betting and casino stocks does European Gaming track?

The ten gambling stocks European Gaming tracks include sports betting stocks such as Flutter, Entain, Evoke, and Betsson. They also include casino stocks Evolution and Playtech, which supply online casino games, and Rank, which owns Grosvenor Casinos. The tracker also covers Italy’s Lottomatica, France’s FDJ United, and sports data supplier Sportradar.

Where can I follow gambling stocks week by week?

European Gaming publishes a gambling stocks recap every week. It covers the ten European gaming stocks it tracks and the news behind each move. You can read last week’s gambling stocks recap here.

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