Paddy Power will close up to 100 betting shops across the UK and Ireland, risking 400 jobs, as higher gambling taxes and rising costs force the operator to scale back its high street presence. The announcement, made on September 3, 2026, follows similar moves by rivals like Betfred and William Hill.
Paddy Power’s decision to shutter up to 100 betting shops represents a significant shift for the UK’s high street betting sector, with 400 jobs at risk. The closures, announced on September 3, 2026, mark the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures by operators grappling with the financial strain of recent tax hikes and inflationary pressures. The move, which affects about a fifth of Paddy Power’s retail footprint, comes as Flutter Entertainment, the parent company, faces mounting challenges in balancing its physical and digital operations.
Closures and Job Losses
Paddy Power will close 100 shops across the UK and Ireland, with 400 employees facing redundancy. The decision, confirmed by Flutter UK and Ireland, affects about a fifth of the operator’s retail footprint. A spokesperson for the company stated, “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.”
The closures include 57 shops already slated for shutdown in November 2025, with additional locations to follow. Flutter’s parent company, which operates brands like Betfair and Sky Bet, has emphasized that affected employees will be offered redeployment opportunities. However, the scale of the cuts underscores the financial pressures facing the industry. “We have tried hard to protect all our sites and the colleagues who work in them, but the combined impact of higher employer national insurance contributions, wage inflation, increases in gambling taxes, and wider economic uncertainty has left us with no choice,” a Betfred representative said.
Tax Increases and Financial Pressures
These measures have significantly impacted Flutter’s earnings, with the company reporting that higher gambling taxes are reducing underlying profits by $540m (€465m) in 2026-2027. The high street trading environment has been challenging for a number of years,
a Flutter spokesperson said, citing rising costs, fierce competition, economic uncertainty, and the shift to online
as ongoing challenges.
The financial strain is not unique to Paddy Power. Betfred, another major operator, announced in August 2026 that it would close 132 shops and cut 600 jobs, blaming higher employer national insurance contributions, wage inflation, increases in gambling taxes, and wider economic uncertainty.
Similarly, William Hill’s parent company, Evoke, has closed 270 shops in recent years, citing similar pressures. These are well-run shops, staffed by dedicated colleagues,
Betfred CEO Jo Whittaker said, but the current fiscal and regulatory environment has made it impossible to keep trading all our shops.
Industry-Wide Challenges
The betting sector’s struggles reflect broader economic headwinds. Rising energy costs, inflation, and shifting consumer behavior have forced operators to reassess their high street presence. The high street trading environment has been challenging for a number of years,
a Flutter spokesperson said, adding that the company remains a key part of our business in communities across the UK and Ireland.
The trend extends beyond individual companies. In April 2026, William Hill’s parent firm, Evoke, moved quickly and decisively
to close shops and cut costs following the 2025 tax changes. Meanwhile, Paddy Power’s October 2025 announcement to close 57 shops put 250 jobs at risk. Our priority now is to support the colleagues affected and to continue serving customers and communities across the rest of our estate,
a Flutter spokesperson said, highlighting the company’s commitment to remaining active in the market.
The immediate next step for Paddy Power is a consultation process to finalize the shop closures. The company has not yet specified which locations will be affected, but the process is expected to begin in September 2026. Meanwhile, the broader implications for the high street betting sector remain uncertain. With Flutter’s new CEO, Dan Taylor, set to take over on October 1, 2026, the company’s strategy for navigating the tax and economic landscape will be closely watched.
For now, the focus remains on supporting affected employees and maintaining service in the remaining shops. As the sector adapts to new tax rules and economic realities, the long-term viability of high street betting shops will depend on how operators balance cost-cutting with community engagement. Our immediate priority at this time is to support those colleagues affected by this announcement,
a Flutter spokesperson said, signaling the company’s emphasis on managing the transition carefully.
