Flutter Entertainment is set to cease operations at Sky Bet Malta, marking the end of a year-long relocation from the UK. This move will result in the elimination of over 50 jobs, with remaining functions shifting to Gibraltar. In total, Flutter employs more than 500 staff in Malta, including those from Betfair International, but intends to maintain a presence in the region. This consolidation will unify Sky Bet and Sky Gaming under the jurisdiction of Gibraltar, overseen by the newly appointed Managing Director of Sky Betting and Gaming, Neil Banbury.
In 2024, Sky Gaming relocated its headquarters to Gibraltar, with Banbury joining Flutter in October after more than 15 years with Kindred Group, where he served as chief commercial and marketing officer. The closure of operations in Malta negates the significance of the relocation effort pursued in November 2025, which was anticipated to save Flutter millions of pounds annually.
The company has refrained from further commenting on the situation, merely issuing a statement regarding general restructuring. Flutter's decision aligns with its broader restructuring initiative focused on its businesses in the UK and Ireland, particularly in response to an increase in gaming machine tax rates in the UK.
In addition to the Malta-related layoffs, Flutter intends to cut approximately 1,400 jobs in the UK as a consequence of a rise in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% starting in April 2026. The General Betting Duty on sports betting, excluding horse racing, is also slated to increase from 15% to 25% in April 2027.
