Paddy Power to close 57 betting shops in UK and Ireland, nearly 250 jobs at risk

• Paddy Power owner Flutter confirms closure of 57 shops in UK and Ireland within one month
• Around 247 staff may lose their jobs but “redeployment opportunities” will be offered where possible
• Closures blamed on rising costs and changing customer behaviour, not imminent tax changes

Paddy Power will permanently close 57 betting shops across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the move set to affect about 247 staff members. The group, owned by Flutter Entertainment, made the announcement after a strategic review of its high street operations.

Flutter Entertainment specified that the closures – comprising 29 shops in the UK (including one in Northern Ireland) and 28 in the Republic of Ireland – follow “increasing cost pressures and challenging market conditions”. The affected employees were notified on Tuesday, 14 October. The business stated that it will “offer redeployment opportunities where possible”; however, job losses are expected to occur, according to BBC.​

Staff and trade union reactions

Of the nearly 250 staff at risk, 128 are based in the UK and 119 in Ireland. The company emphasised that its high street presence “remains a key part of our offer to customers”, and pledged to “innovate and invest where we can as we adapt to different customer trends and needs,” a spokesperson noted.

“In light of increasing cost pressures and challenging market conditions, we can confirm that we will be closing 28 shops across Ireland within the next month.”

“We are continually reviewing our high street estate, but it remains a key part of our offer to customers, and we are seeking to innovate and invest where we can as we adapt to different customer trends and needs,” said a Flutter UKI spokesperson.​

Industry context and future outlook

The closures are not attributed directly to proposed tax hikes in the upcoming autumn UK Budget, but Flutter used the opportunity to warn about the risks posed by potential new fiscal pressures.

The company stated:

“While today’s closures are not directly related to the uncertainty surrounding the Budget, a higher gambling tax could have a significant impact on jobs and investment across the industry and drive more customers into open arms of unlicensed operators on the illegal, black market.”

Recent years have seen a drop in traditional betting shops, with a shift towards online wagering since the COVID-19 pandemic. Flutter itself now generates over 90 percent of its revenue online. The planned Paddy Power shop closures reflect broader efforts across the sector to balance costs and evolving consumer behaviour, as well as competitive digital offerings.​

Operators and investors watching this trend will look to how regulatory changes and shifting customer habits continue to reshape betting retail. Companies across the sector may further reassess physical footprints as their main business continues to migrate online, while policymakers face increasing scrutiny around the impact of higher operator taxation.