Entain has announced plans to close 39 of its approximately 100 Ladbrokes shops in Ireland, accounting for more than a third of its retail estate in the country. This decision follows reports that the company has withdrawn from discussions to sell its entire Ladbrokes retail operations. The closures may lead to the loss of 226 jobs, pending consultation. Formal consultations with affected employees have begun, with the aim of finalizing the closures by the end of May 2026.
A spokesperson for Ladbrokes stated, 'We continually review our retail estate to ensure our business remains competitive and financially sustainable. Our priority now is to engage constructively with colleagues throughout the consultation process, with a strong focus on redeployment wherever possible. Ladbrokes remains committed to Ireland and to operating responsibly within a sustainable retail footprint.' After completing the closures, Ladbrokes will continue to employ over 350 people in 66 shops across Ireland.
The collapse of the planned sale comes after Entain had held negotiations with Bar One Racing regarding the sale of its Irish retail operations. Reports indicate that these discussions did not result in an agreement, as confirmed by The Racing Post on March 31.
The spokesperson acknowledged the difficult nature of the closures, citing 'sustained cost pressures, long-term changes in customer behavior, and the growing competitive threat from the unlicensed market' as factors influencing this decision. The contraction of Ladbrokes’ retail presence reflects a broader trend in the UK betting and gaming sector. For instance, Evoke recently informed employees of its plans to close around 200 UK retail shops as part of a strategic review responding to a hike in remote gaming duty. Additionally, Flutter Entertainment announced intentions to close 57 Paddy Power shops last October, which could affect nearly 250 staff.
These developments follow the UK government's announcement of an increase in the remote gaming duty from 21% to 40%, effective this week, contributing to a stagnant retail betting sector as operators adapt to new tax pressures.
