Paddy Power Considers Closing Up To 100 UK And Ireland Betting Shops
The Flutter-owned bookmaker has launched a review that could result in around one fifth of its retail estate closing by the end of 2026.
Paddy Power is considering the closure of up to 100 betting shops across the UK and Ireland by the end of the year, potentially placing around 400 jobs at risk.
The Flutter Entertainment-owned bookmaker currently operates 506 shops across the two markets, meaning the proposed closures could affect approximately one fifth of its retail estate. The review follows the closure of 57 Paddy Power shops in late 2025 and comes amid mounting cost and tax pressures on the retail betting sector.
Around 400 Jobs At Risk
Paddy Power currently operates 310 shops across Britain and Northern Ireland, employing 1,374 people, alongside 196 locations in the Republic of Ireland with 935 employees.
Flutter said it would seek to redeploy affected employees wherever possible and support staff throughout the consultation process. Despite the proposed reductions, the company maintained that its high street operations remain an important part of the business.
“We are incredibly proud of our high street estate, and it remains a key part of our business in communities across the UK and Ireland. Unfortunately, we have had to take the extremely difficult decision to conduct this review,” a Flutter spokesperson said.
“The high street trading environment has been challenging for a number of years given rising costs, fierce competition, economic uncertainty and the shift to online, but we also face a material impact from the higher gambling taxes announced in last year’s UK budget. Our immediate priority at this time is to support those colleagues affected by this announcement.”
The previous round of closures comprised 27 shops in Britain, 28 in the Republic of Ireland and one in Northern Ireland.
Betting Shop Sector Faces Further Closures
Paddy Power becomes the latest major bookmaker to reconsider the size of its retail estate amid wider economic and regulatory pressures.
Betfred announced plans in July to close 132 betting shops, citing factors including taxation and economic uncertainty. Evoke also announced the closure of 270 William Hill shops following a strategic review, while Entain confirmed plans to close approximately a third of its Ladbrokes estate in Ireland.
Flutter said its own review reflects several pressures affecting the economics of retail betting, including higher energy costs, rents and business rates, as well as changes to gambling taxation announced by the UK government.
The company previously estimated that higher gambling taxes would reduce its underlying earnings by approximately €465 million across 2026 and 2027.
Flutter Continues International Restructuring
The retail review comes during a wider period of change at Flutter, which has increasingly focused on the US following the rapid growth of its FanDuel business and has moved its primary stock market listing to New York.
Flutter generated revenue of $16.4 billion in 2025, an increase of 17% year-on-year, although the group reported a $407 million net loss compared with a $162 million profit during the previous year.
The company also lowered its full-year 2026 guidance following its second-quarter results, reducing its expected revenue midpoint by $395 million to $17.91 billion and its adjusted EBITDA midpoint by $210 million to $2.65 billion.
Further leadership changes are approaching, with current International division chief Dan Taylor due to succeed Peter Jackson as Flutter CEO on 1 October.
