Entain confirms plans to close third of Ladbrokes betting shops in Ireland
The company had been considering the sale of Irish betting shops.
UK.- Just a day after Evoke announced plans to close 200 William Hill betting shops in the UK, its major London-listed rival Entain has confirmed plans to shut more than a third of its Ladbrokes betting shops in Ireland. The company had been discussing plans to sell its retail network in the country but ended the negotiations earlier this year.
According to The Irish Times, 39 of roughly 100 Ladbrokes outlets in Ireland will close, pending consultation. That could affect 226 employees, with whom formal discussions have already begun. The closures are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
Entain said its priority was to engage with staff throughout a consultation and that it would aim to redeploy people where possible. It stressed that it remains committed to retaining a Ladbrokes presence in Ireland. The remaining shops are estimated to employ more than 350 people.
Entain had explored 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 agreement.
As well as Evoke’s announcement this week, other major players have also signalled closures. In October, Flutter Entertainment announced that it would shut 57 Paddy Power shops, potentially affecting nearly 250 jobs at risk.
Operators have tended to blame the government’s decision to raise Remote Gaming Duty from 21 to 40 per cent from April 1 as a cause for the closures. Retail betting is exempt from the tax hike, but operators make the connection, saying they need to reduce costs to absorb the tax hit.
Retail betting revenue has been on the wane 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.
