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Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes, Coral and partypoker, is consulting on plans to cut up to 400 customer-care positions as higher UK gambling taxes put increasing pressure on the gambling industry.
The proposed cuts would affect customer-care employees across 11 countries, including the United Kingdom. The cuts could affect roughly 20% of Entain’s 2,000 customer-care employees worldwide. The company expects the consultation process to conclude in November.
The announcement comes less than two months after Entain confirmed plans to eliminate about 500 positions across the group. Reuters reported in July that the cuts were part of an effort to reduce costs as the company absorbs higher UK gambling taxes.
Together, the two restructuring programs could affect as many as 900 positions, although the figures represent separate proposals and should not be interpreted as 900 confirmed redundancies.
Entain faces growing tax pressure
The latest job cuts come as gambling operators contend with a sharp increase in UK gambling duties.
Remote Gaming Duty increased from 21% to 40% on April 1, 2026. General Betting Duty on remote betting is also scheduled to increase from 15% to 25% on April 1, 2027.
Entain has estimated that the higher online gambling taxes will add approximately $266 million to its annual costs. Despite the additional tax burden, the company reported $636 million in underlying EBITDA for the first half of 2026, according to The Guardian.
The company said its stronger-than-expected revenue performance helped offset some of the impact of higher taxes, but cost reductions remain a key part of its strategy.
Machine Games Duty could add more pressure
Entain is also facing the possibility of another significant tax increase on its UK retail operations.
The government is considering doubling the standard rate of Machine Games Duty from 20% to 40%. The proposed increase could be announced in the Oct. 28 Budget.
Entain CEO Stella David has warned that doubling the duty could add more than $133 million to the company’s tax bill and put additional betting shops at risk.
David has cited industry modelling from EY that estimates a 40% Machine Games Duty rate could contribute to as many as 1,470 betting-shop closures and 15,900 job losses across the sector. The Guardian reported on the industry’s concerns, although those figures are projections rather than confirmed outcomes.
The potential tax increase has become a major concern for betting-shop operators, who argue that higher costs could make some locations commercially unviable.
Gambling industry cuts continue
Entain is not the only major gambling company restructuring as UK operators prepare for higher taxes.
Evoke, the owner of William Hill and 888, announced plans earlier this year to close about 270 betting shops, with hundreds of jobs affected. Flutter, the parent company of PokerStars, also confirmed job cuts in July as part of organizational changes.
For Entain, the latest proposed cuts come despite the company remaining profitable. The combination of higher online gambling taxes, potential increases in retail duties and pressure to improve efficiency has nevertheless pushed the company to pursue additional cost savings.
The Oct. 28 Budget could determine whether that pressure intensifies. A significant increase in Machine Games Duty would add another cost burden for betting-shop operators already adjusting to higher online gambling taxes.
