Entain is no closer to offloading its Irish Ladbrokes assets after negotiations over a potential sale ended without a deal being agreed, SBC News has learned.
Reports surfaced last June that Entain was considering a sale of its Irish Ladbrokes assets to Irish bookmaker Bar One Racing. SBC News understands that the talks ultimately did not lead anywhere.
It has now been widely reported, and confirmed by Entain, that it is pressing ahead with a number of shop closures in Ireland.
The source also said that so far Ladbrokes Ireland has kept closures to a minimum. This week’s retrofitting comes amid wider restructurings across the UK and Irish betting and gaming industries.
“We continually review our retail estate to ensure our business remains competitive and financially sustainable,” a Ladbrokes spokesperson told SBC News.
“These planned closures in the Republic of Ireland are not a decision we take lightly and reflect sustained cost pressures, long‑term changes in customer behaviour and the growing competitive threat from the unlicensed market.
“Our priority now is to engage constructively with colleagues throughout the consultation process, with a strong focus on redeployment wherever possible. Ladbrokes remains committed to Ireland and to operating responsibly within a sustainable retail footprint.”
Reviews underway
Ladbrokes currently operates more than 2,700 premises across the UK and Ireland, with 108 shops active in Ireland and 66 in Northern Ireland.
However, the latest financial report from parent Entain revealed that total UK&I retail revenue was down 2% year-over-year, and sports betting revenue dropped by 3% across its retail estate.
And while the UK and Ireland may be separate markets with distinct legislative and regulatory frameworks for gambling, the two are very intertwined with a number of the same firms active in each – Entain, Flutter, evoke, Super Group, and bet365, to name a few.
Today, 1 April, marks the first day that the Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) goes up from the previous 21% tax rate to 40%, as promised by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in the UK’s Autumn Budget last November. This time next year will also see the General Betting Duty (GBD) go up from 15% to 25%.
Within the context of the current tax landscape in the UK, Entain’s decision to close part of its UK&I retail portfolio follows a similar cost-cutting trend seen across the market. The firm is not alone in reviewing its options amid mounting financial pressure.
William Hill owner evoke has opted to close over 200 UK shops amid a group-wide strategic review initiated in December 2025, one month after the tax hikes.
Flutter Entertainment is also reviewing mitigation measures, with a restructuring of Paddy Power’s marketing department revealed to SBC News last week.
