Entain Announces 400 Job Cuts Amid Tax Hike Warnings

Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, has confirmed plans to reduce its global workforce by 400 positions. This announcement coincides with a warning from its CEO to Prime Minister Andy Burnham regarding potential increases in machine gaming duty.

What Happened

Entain has announced the elimination of 400 customer service roles across 11 international locations, with fewer than half of these positions expected to be in the United Kingdom, according to The Mirror. The company attributed these reductions to increased gambling taxes, alongside efforts to reduce costs following prior acquisitions, increased integration of artificial intelligence, and evolving customer preferences. Entain CEO Stella David stated that these changes are designed to ensure the business remains competitive and financially resilient in an increasingly challenging operating environment.

Concurrently, Ms. David has communicated with Prime Minister Andy Burnham to caution against any potential increase in machine gaming duty during the upcoming Budget in October, The Mirror reported. Reports from the Financial Times suggest the Treasury is reassessing this tax, with a potential increase from 20% to 40% targeting betting shops and adult gaming centers, while excluding pubs, bingo halls, and seaside arcades.

Key Details

• Entain plans to cut 400 customer service roles across 11 global locations, with fewer than half of these positions located in the UK (The Mirror).
• The company cites higher gambling taxes, cost reductions post-acquisitions, increased AI use, and changing customer habits as reasons for the job cuts (The Mirror).
• Entain CEO Stella David has warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham that doubling machine gaming duty to 40% could increase the annual operating cost of its UK retail business by approximately £100 million (The Mirror).
• Industry research cited by Ms. David suggests such a tax increase could lead to up to 1,470 betting shop closures and 15,900 job losses, potentially resulting in a net loss of around £120 million to the Exchequer (The Mirror).

Why It Matters

These job reductions at Entain and the company’s warnings about potential tax increases highlight significant pressures within the regulated gambling sector. The proposed changes in machine gaming duty, if implemented, could lead to substantial operational cost increases for betting shop operators, potentially impacting employment levels and retail footprints across the UK high street. Entain, which employs over 13,000 people in the UK, with more than 12,000 in approximately 2,300 betting shops, underscores the potential socio-economic consequences for local communities and the wider industry.

Originally reported by The Mirror·Published 16 Sep 2026, 10:41