Entain to close 39 Ladbrokes shops in Ireland

Entain has confirmed plans to close 39 Ladbrokes shops in Ireland. This represents more than a third of its retail estate in the country. The move follows the collapse of discussions to sell the entire Ladbrokes retail business in the market.

The closures were first reported by The Irish Times and could put up to 226 jobs at risk. A formal consultation process with affected employees is now underway. The operator is hoping for completion by the end of May 2026.

What Ladbrokes are saying

A Ladbrokes spokesperson said the company continues to review its retail operations to ensure long-term sustainability. Efforts will focus on supporting staff through consultation. They will consider redeployment options where possible.

“We continually review our retail estate to ensure our business remains competitive and financially sustainable. Our priority now is to engage constructively with colleagues throughout the consultation process, with a strong focus on redeployment wherever possible. Ladbrokes remains committed to Ireland and to operating responsibly within a sustainable retail footprint.” - Ladbrokes

Failed sale talks add to pressure

The closures come after Entain withdrew from negotiations to sell its Irish retail estate. Talks had been ongoing with Bar One Racing but ended without agreement, according to The Racing Post.

Following the planned shutdowns, Ladbrokes will keep around 66 shops in Ireland. These will employ more than 350 staff. The company said it remains committed to operating in the market. But there will be a reduced and more sustainable footprint.

In a statement, the operator pointed to the causes. It said sustained cost pressures, shifting customer behaviour and increased competition from the unlicensed market are all behind the decision.

Wider retail decline continues across UK and Ireland

The reduction in Ladbrokes’ Irish estate is happening elsewhere in the UK and Ireland’s betting sector. Several operators are scaling back retail operations.

Recent developments show the scale. Evoke Plc has announced plans to close around 200 shops in the UK. Flutter Entertainment previously outlined the closure of 57 Paddy Power locations.

The changes are happening amid increasing regulatory and financial pressure. This includes higher gambling taxes and changes to consumer habits. Many people now favour online platforms. Retail betting has remained largely stagnant in recent years. This has meant that physical shops in particular have been exposed as operators and have needed to adjust their strategies.

There is expected to be further consolidation across the sector. Operators have to work to balance retail presence against the growing dominance of digital channels.