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Table Of Content :

Entain Plans 400 Further Job Cuts as UK Tax Pressure Builds

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Altay
Altay Celikkaya
Content Manager
Updated:
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Entain is consulting on proposals that could affect around 400 customer-care positions, equivalent to approximately 20% of the gambling group’s 2,000-person customer-support workforce. The latest review follows a separate programme announced in July covering 500 corporate, product and technology roles.

If both programmes proceed as reported, approximately 900 positions would be affected across the two rounds. The new proposal arrives shortly after the Ladbrokes and Coral owner delivered first-half earnings ahead of expectations.

Entain graphic highlighting plans to cut a further 400 jobs against a blue background.

People Moves

Key Takeaways From Entain’s Workforce Review

  • Around 400 customer-care roles are subject to consultation rather than confirmed as removed.

  • The proposal is separate from the 500 corporate, product and technology roles announced in July.

  • The two programmes would affect approximately 900 positions if completed at the reported scale.

  • Entain has linked the review to a more difficult UK operating environment and rising tax costs.

  • Stronger revenue and better-than-expected earnings have not removed the need for further efficiency measures.

A Second Workforce Review Extends Entain’s Restructuring

The latest consultation covers about one in five customer-care roles. Reuters reported that Entain confirmed the planned reduction, while supporting coverage placed the number of affected positions at roughly 400. Consultation means the final number, timing and locations remain subject to the process, so the roles should not yet be described as completed job cuts.

The programme follows the removal of 500 positions announced in July across corporate, product and technology functions. Those earlier changes did not cover the customer-care workforce now under review. Treating the announcements as separate measures provides a clearer picture of Entain’s restructuring.

Entain CEO Stella David said:

This decision has not been made lightly, and our immediate priority is to support those of our colleagues who may be impacted through this transition.

The review also fits a wider effort to simplify the group and strengthen cash generation. Entain’s phased exit from its Central and Eastern European business is expected to reduce debt and narrow the company’s portfolio. Workforce changes add another layer to that programme.

Better Earnings Meet a Higher-Cost UK Market

Entain’s official 2026 interim results showed group net gaming revenue from continuing operations rising 5% on a constant-currency basis. UK and Ireland net gaming revenue increased 8%, while online revenue in the region advanced 13%.

Group underlying EBITDA reached £479 million, down 2% year on year but ahead of expectations. Entain said stronger net gaming revenue was more than offset by the increased UK online gambling tax. The figures explain why improved trading and job reductions can occur at the same time. Revenue momentum supports the business, but higher duties can still compress margins and increase pressure to deliver savings.

For investors, cost reduction after an earnings beat does not necessarily signal weaker demand. It may show management moving early to protect profitability, cash flow and leverage as structural costs rise. Entain ended June with £3.6 billion of net debt and reported leverage of 3.1 times.

Tax Pressure Moves From Online Operations to Retail Risk

The UK’s Remote Gaming Duty increase from 21% to 40% took effect in April 2026. A higher remote betting duty is scheduled for April 2027, widening the cost challenge for operators with sportsbook and casino exposure.

Attention is now turning to Machine Games Duty, which directly affects gaming machines in betting shops and adult gaming centres. Reports of a possible increase remain speculation ahead of the Budget. The main rate is currently 20%, and suggestions that it could double should be attributed to Entain or industry modelling rather than presented as government policy.

Claims that a higher rate could cause 1,470 betting-shop closures or 15,900 job losses also remain forecasts, not confirmed outcomes. For Entain, however, the prospect adds uncertainty to a retail estate already facing wage, property and compliance costs.

Early data indicates that UK demand remained comparatively resilient after the online tax increase, although revenue dynamics shifted more noticeably. The UK iGaming market analysis following the 40% duty rise found that licensed brands retained most of their demand share, while offshore operators gained a larger share of projected revenue than their search demand suggested.

What the Consultation Means for Entain’s Operating Model

Customer care is a sensitive area for any regulated gambling group because teams handle account access, verification, complaints and safer-gambling interactions. Reducing headcount therefore requires more than a cost calculation. Entain must maintain service standards, regulatory controls and timely support while changing a customer-facing function.

The consultation will be watched for details on geography, implementation and redeployment. Until it concludes, the clearest description is that around 400 roles are at risk. The broader direction is already visible. Entain is combining portfolio simplification, debt reduction and workforce restructuring as it prepares for a UK market in which revenue can grow while the cost of serving that revenue rises.