Entain plans to close more than a third of its Ladbrokes stores in Ireland. As first reported by The Irish Times, Entain has confirmed the closure of 39 out of about 100 Ladbrokes stores in the country, accounting for more than a third of its retail assets in Ireland. This decision could lead to the loss of 226 jobs, although the exact number will need to be confirmed through a consultation process. The company has begun formal consultations with affected employees, aiming to complete the closures by the end of May 2026. Frankly, this is not the first piece of bad news for the Irish betting retail industry.
Why close stores? Cost pressures, changes in consumer habits, and competition from the black market
A Ladbrokes spokesperson told the media: "We continuously review our retail assets to ensure the business remains competitive and financially sustainable. These planned closures are not made lightly and reflect ongoing cost pressures, long-term changes in customer behavior, and increasing competition threats from unlicensed markets." After the closures, Ladbrokes will continue to operate 66 stores in Ireland, employing over 350 people. The company stated it will prioritize constructive consultations with employees and arrange redeployment where possible. In other words, they will keep as many as possible, but the overall trend is unstoppable.
Sale negotiations broke down: Contacted Bar One Racing but no agreement was reached
Last year, Entain had negotiations with Bar One Racing regarding the sale of Ladbrokes' Irish retail business. However, according to the Racing Post on March 31, these negotiations ultimately did not result in an agreement. After the breakdown of negotiations, Entain opted for large-scale store closures rather than an outright sale. This decision reflects a gap between the potential buyers' valuation of the retail assets and Entain's expectations, and it shows that taking over a large number of physical betting shops is not a profitable deal in the current market environment.
The continuous contraction of the UK and Irish retail betting industry, with a chain reaction intensifying
Ladbrokes' reduction of its retail footprint reflects the overall downward trend in the betting retail industry in the UK and Ireland. This week, Evoke announced plans to close about 200 UK retail stores by May as part of its strategic review, in response to the recently implemented increase in remote gambling tax. Last October, Flutter Entertainment also planned to close 57 Paddy Power stores, with nearly 250 employees facing layoffs. The UK retail betting stations have been essentially stagnant in recent years, and with the remote gambling tax increasing from 21% to 40%, operators are increasingly passing cost pressures onto the retail end, with physical stores bearing the brunt.
As for the Irish market, whether this wave of closures will trigger a chain reaction remains to be seen. However, it is certain that with the continuous growth of online gambling, stricter regulation, rising taxes, and competition from the black market, the living space for physical betting stations is being progressively squeezed. For more global gambling retail dynamics, continue to follow PASA's official website.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders" gambling news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
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