Flutter to shut 57 Paddy Power betting shops in UK and Ireland after retail review

Flutter Entertainment will close 57 Paddy Power betting shops across the UK and Ireland following a review of its high street estate, with 247 roles at risk, citing increasing cost pressures and changing customer trends.

The company confirmed that 29 shops in the UK, including one in Northern Ireland, and 28 in the Republic of Ireland will be shut within the next month. The closures follow an internal review of Flutter’s retail operations. A total of 128 workers in the UK and 119 in Ireland have been identified as at risk of redundancy.

Staff affected will be offered support during the process, the operator said. “Staff affected by the plans will be offered redeployment opportunities where possible; however, the closures will unfortunately lead to a number of job losses,” Flutter stated.

A Flutter UK and Ireland spokesperson added: “We are continually reviewing our high street estate, but it remains a key part of our offer to customers, and we are seeking to innovate and invest where we can as we adapt to different customer trends and needs.”

Flutter did not specify which branches will close upon announcement and said further information will be shared after consultations.

The decision comes as UK gambling operators assess the potential effects of proposed changes to the government's taxation framework. The UK government is expected to outline a restructured gambling tax in the Autumn Budget on Nov. 26.

Flutter said the shop closures were not directly linked to tax developments but cautioned against additional financial pressure on the sector. “While today’s closures are not directly related to the uncertainty surrounding the Budget, a higher gambling tax could have a significant impact on jobs and investment across the industry and drive more customers into the open arms of unlicensed operators on the illegal, black market,” a company spokesperson said.

The government has said it is considering a single rate of remote gambling tax to replace the existing three-band system. The proposal has drawn responses from licensed operators who say any increase would come on top of the statutory levy that took effect on April 6 this year.

Retail operators across the betting industry are also reviewing the viability of physical locations. William Hill owner Evoke said it is considering “further shop closures” in the UK, depending on potential changes to gambling taxes.

“As part of our ongoing planning, we are assessing the potential impact of different overall tax scenarios on our UK operations,” an Evoke spokesperson said. “This includes the difficult but necessary consideration for shop closures.”

The Sunday Times reported this week that between 120 and 200 William Hill outlets could close if higher tax rates are introduced. Evoke currently operates approximately 1,300 William Hill shops, meaning up to 15% of its network could be affected under the upper estimate.

Entain CEO Stella David has also said that UK retail locations could close to manage operating costs. Entain owns Ladbrokes, one of the largest betting shop chains in the UK.