Betfred has unveiled plans to shutter 132 betting shops across the UK and reduce its workforce by over 600 employees starting in September. The company’s decision, reported by Sky News on Friday, comes as part of a consultation concerning the future of its retail locations and is largely attributed to the Remote Gaming Duty increase that took effect in April.
A further rise in the UK's remote betting tax is anticipated for 2027, although this does not directly affect retail operations.
In a statement viewed by iGB, Betfred's chief executive Jo Whittaker expressed regret over the closures, stating, "It is with deep regret that we have today started a consultation with colleagues working in more than 130 of our shops regarding a proposal to close those locations. We have tried hard to protect all our sites and the colleagues who work in them, but the combined impact of higher employer National Insurance contributions, wage inflation, increases in gambling taxes, and wider economic uncertainty has left us with no choice.
"These are well-run shops, staffed by dedicated colleagues, and it is incredibly hard to see any of them close, but the current fiscal and regulatory environment has made it impossible to keep trading all our shops. Our priority now is to support the colleagues affected and to continue serving customers and communities across the rest of our estate."
The closures largely stem from tax rises enacted in the UK's autumn budget last year, which included a major increase in the remote gaming duty alongside a new online sports betting levy set to begin in 2027. Post-restructure, Betfred will still operate approximately 1,100 outlets nationwide and has begun consultations with the affected staff as of Friday.
Other operators have also responded to the shifting tax landscape. Entain, the parent company of competitors like Ladbrokes and Coral, announced its own shop closures in Ireland back in April, shutting down 39 of its nearly 100 Ladbrokes locations in the country. This move resulted in 226 job losses. In July, Entain revealed that an additional 500 roles globally would be cut, mainly affecting operational positions. A spokesperson noted, “These changes will help make Entain a stronger, better business and are a further demonstration of our strategic focus on maximising shareholder value. We are consulting with all those affected to support them during this process.” However, Entain maintained that these cuts were not a direct response to taxation changes but part of a broader effort for cost optimization.
Similarly, Evoke, the parent company of William Hill, confirmed that the tax hike was a primary factor behind its decision to close 200 stores in April, stating, “Following a thorough review and further to increased cost pressures on the regulated sector including significant tax increases announced by the government in last year’s autumn budget, from May we are closing a number of shops that are no longer sustainable.”
