Entain Announces Plans to Close One-Third of Ladbrokes Betting Shops in Ireland

(AsiaGameHub) –   The firm had been exploring the sale of its Irish betting outlets.

UK.- Just one day after Evoke announced plans to close 200 William Hill betting shops in the UK, its major London-listed rival Entain has confirmed intentions to shut more than a third of its Ladbrokes betting shops in Ireland. The company had been in talks to sell its retail network in the country but concluded those negotiations earlier this year.

According to The Irish Times, 39 out of approximately 100 Ladbrokes outlets in Ireland will close, pending consultation. This could impact 226 employees, with whom formal discussions have already started. The closures are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.

Entain stated that its priority is to engage with staff throughout the consultation process and that it aims to redeploy employees wherever possible. It emphasized that it remains committed to maintaining a Ladbrokes presence in Ireland. The remaining shops are estimated to employ over 350 people.

Entain had looked into a potential sale of Ladbrokes’ Irish retail portfolio to Bar One Racing. The Racing Post reported at the end of March that the negotiations had ended without an agreement.

Alongside Evoke’s announcement this week, other major players have also signalled closures. In October, Flutter Entertainment announced it would shut 57 Paddy Power shops, potentially putting nearly 250 jobs at risk.

Operators have often blamed the government’s decision to raise Remote Gaming Duty from 21 to 40 per cent starting April 1 as a cause for the closures. Retail betting is exempt from the tax hike, but operators draw a connection, noting they need to cut costs to absorb the tax impact.

Retail betting revenue has been declining for some time. Gambling Commission figures show that gross gambling yield from retail bookmakers was down 7 per cent year-on-year to £549m between October and December 2025.