Entain will close 39 of its approximately 100 Ladbrokes shops in Ireland, putting 226 jobs at risk, after negotiations to sell the Irish retail estate to Bar One Racing ended without a deal. Closures are scheduled to complete by the end of May 2026.
Sale Talks Collapse, Closures Follow
Reports emerged last June that Entain was in advanced discussions with Dundalk-based Bar One Racing over a potential sale of its entire Ladbrokes Irish estate. Those talks broke down, according to multiple industry sources, leaving the closure route as the remaining option.
Entain confirmed the closures and began formal consultation with affected employees. The 39 shops represent more than a third of Ladbrokes’ Republic of Ireland footprint. Six additional locations in Northern Ireland are also under review, bringing the total affected across the island to 45 shops and up to 250 jobs. Following the closures, Ladbrokes will retain around 66 shops in the Republic and more than 50 in Northern Ireland, employing over 350 people in Ireland in total.
Ladbrokes entered examinership in Ireland in 2015, resulting in the closure of 60 of its 196 shops at that time. The business was acquired by Entain in 2018.
Entain Cites Cost Pressure and Unlicensed Competition
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.
The unlicensed market has become a recurring concern for licensed Irish operators. The Irish Bookmakers Association describes it as gambling activity outside government regulation and licensing, lacking consumer protections including age verification, self-exclusion, and payout obligations.
Entain’s most recent financial reporting showed UK and Ireland retail revenue down 2% year-on-year in 2025, with sports betting revenue across its retail estate falling 3%.
Part of a Broader Retail Contraction
The closures follow a clear pattern across the UK and Ireland betting sector. Evoke, owner of William Hill, informed staff this week of plans to shut around 200 UK retail shops in May, a decision it linked directly to the Remote Gaming Duty increase from 21% to 40%, which took effect on 1 April 2026. Flutter Entertainment separately laid out plans last October to close 57 Paddy Power shops, with nearly 250 staff at risk at the time.
Ireland operates under a distinct regulatory and tax framework from the UK, and the RGD increase does not apply directly to the Republic. But the structural pressures across the two markets are closely linked. Entain, Flutter, Evoke, Super Group, and bet365 all operate across both jurisdictions, and online migration has been accelerating the decline of retail betting volumes for years.
Ladbrokes currently runs more than 2,700 premises across the UK and Ireland combined. The Irish estate had stood at around 108 shops in the Republic and 66 in Northern Ireland entering 2026.
What Comes Next
The consultation process with affected employees is expected to run over the coming weeks. Entain has said redeployment will be a priority where possible, though it has not disclosed which specific locations are earmarked for closure. The £200m annual tax impact Entain estimated from UK duty increases adds pressure to the group’s retail cost base across both markets, making further rationalisation of physical shop networks likely rather than exceptional. Whether Entain revisits a disposal of its remaining Irish estate, or continues to operate a reduced network, will depend on whether the economics improve once the lower-cost footprint is established.
Source: The Irish Times, iGaming Business, SBC News
