6 Sep 2026
Paddy Power Announces Further Betting Shop Closures Amid Tax Pressures
Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of Paddy Power, has outlined plans to shutter up to 100 betting shops across the UK and Ireland by the end of the year, placing around 400 jobs in jeopardy, and this move follows the operator's earlier decision to close 57 locations in October while mirroring actions taken by competitors such as Betfred and William Hill.
Industry observers note that these reductions stem directly from the tax adjustments introduced in the Autumn Budget 2025, which raised rates on remote gaming duty alongside other gambling levies, and the cumulative effect has prompted multiple operators to reassess their physical retail footprints.
Details of the Latest Closure Round
Company statements confirm that the proposed closures target underperforming sites where footfall has declined steadily, yet the timeline extends through December, and affected staff will receive support packages including redundancy consultations and redeployment options where available within the remaining network.
Entain has separately estimated that the sector could see as many as 560 shop closures in total since the budget measures took effect, and this aggregate figure incorporates the 270 outlets flagged by William Hill owner Evoke plus the 132 reductions announced by Betfred.
Drivers Behind the Industry Adjustments
Higher operational costs compound the tax burden, with rising energy bills, rental increases, and business rates pushing many locations into unprofitable territory, while the ongoing migration of customers toward online platforms accelerates the need for fewer physical locations.
Those tracking the sector point out that the Autumn Budget 2025 explicitly lifted the remote gaming duty, which applies to digital offerings, and although the duty change targets online play, the broader fiscal environment has squeezed margins across both channels, prompting retailers to consolidate.
Patterns Across Major Operators
Betfred's closure of 132 shops demonstrates a parallel response to the same cost pressures, and William Hill's parent Evoke has moved to eliminate 270 sites as part of its own restructuring, showing how the budget changes have produced coordinated yet independent decisions throughout the market.
Flutter Entertainment's announcement for Paddy Power therefore fits within this wider contraction, and analysts tracking the companies report that the combined closures represent a significant contraction in high-street presence that has unfolded rapidly since late 2025.
Timeline and Ongoing Developments Through 2026
By September 2026, the first wave of closures has already taken effect, and remaining locations continue to operate under tighter margins while operators monitor further fiscal updates that could influence additional adjustments in the months ahead.
Company filings indicate that the October 2025 reductions served as an initial step, and the current round of up to 100 further closures represents an escalation that aligns with the full-year targets set after the budget announcements.
Workforce and Community Considerations
Approximately 400 positions face uncertainty from the Paddy Power plans alone, and similar numbers from other operators mean several thousand roles across the sector stand affected, prompting discussions around retraining programs and transition support funded partly through industry initiatives.
Local economies that rely on these shops for foot traffic have begun to register the changes, and while some sites may convert to alternative retail uses, the shift leaves gaps in community services that betting outlets previously provided in smaller towns and cities.
Conclusion
The sequence of announcements from Flutter Entertainment, Evoke, Betfred, and Entain illustrates how the Autumn Budget 2025 measures have reshaped retail betting strategies, and the resulting closures continue to progress through the end of the year and into 2026 as companies adapt to the new tax and cost landscape. Racing Post coverage and reports from the European Gaming and Betting Association provide additional context on these sector-wide shifts.