Flutter to Close Sky Bet Malta Office, Citing Tax Changes

Flutter Entertainment intends to close Sky Bet’s Malta operations less than a year after relocating its commercial headquarters from the UK to the island, affecting approximately 50 roles.

What Happened

Flutter plans to close Sky Bet’s Malta operation, a move reported by NEXT.io and iGaming Today, less than a year after the brand’s commercial headquarters relocated from the UK to the island in November 2025. This decision is part of a wider cost-cutting program announced by Flutter, which could impact up to 1,400 jobs across its operations, according to EGR Intel and iGaming Today.

Around 50 roles in Malta are at risk as a result of the closure, with remaining employees expected to transfer to Gibraltar, where the sister brand Sky Gaming currently operates. SBG Sports Limited, Sky Bet’s Maltese entity, is also expected to be wound down as part of this restructuring, as reported by NEXT.io.

Key Details

• Flutter’s decision to close the Malta office reverses a relocation initiated in November 2025, which was expected to generate significant savings for the group, according to iGaming Today.
• Approximately 50 roles in Malta are at risk, with remaining staff slated for transfer to Gibraltar (iGaming Today).
• The company’s recent job layoffs are directly linked to UK tax changes announced in last year’s Autumn Budget, which Flutter stated have significantly increased costs, according to iGaming Today.

Why It Matters

The closure of Sky Bet’s Malta office marks a significant shift in Flutter’s operational strategy, reversing a relocation intended to yield cost savings. This development underscores the impact of evolving tax policies in the UK on major operators within regulated markets, as cited by iGaming Today. Flutter attributes its cost-cutting measures and job layoffs directly to these UK tax changes, which reportedly increased operational expenses.

The industry is also anticipating a potential increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD) on Category B gaming machines. While a proposal supported by nearly 100 Labour MPs initially suggested doubling the rate from 20% to 40%, a report from The Times indicates the increase may settle at 25% in the upcoming Budget. Industry groups, including the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), have cautioned that a higher increase, such as 40%, could jeopardize up to 2,900 betting shops, threaten over 21,000 jobs, and reduce funding for British racing, according to iGaming Today.

Grainne Hurst, BGC chief executive, stated that Flutter’s layoff announcement represents “another devastating blow to workers and families across our sector, and further evidence of the real-world consequences of the government’s tax rises.” Hurst warned that further tax increases could exacerbate job losses, high street closures, and potentially benefit the unregulated gambling market, as reported by iGaming Today.

Originally reported by iGaming Today·Published 21 Oct 2026, 12:23