Flutter Plans Up to 1,400 Job Cuts After UK Tax Rises

Flutter Entertainment plans to cut up to 1,400 jobs across its UK and Ireland business, becoming the latest major gambling operator to announce redundancies following UK tax increases.

The proposed restructuring, announced on 20 October, is subject to consultation. It will affect employees in Leeds and Dublin, alongside staff supporting the division from Porto in Portugal and Cluj-Napoca in Romania.

The Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair owner expects implementation costs of $80–90 million, which it plans to recognise in the final quarter of 2026.

Flutter says higher duties require lower costs

Flutter employs approximately 9,000 people in its UK and Ireland division, meaning the maximum proposed cuts would represent around 16% of its workforce in that business.

UK and Ireland chief executive Kevin Harrington said the tax changes had altered the economics of operating in the regulated UK market.

“As we warned a year ago, we cannot fully absorb a rise of this magnitude without reducing our fixed cost base.” - Kevin Harrington

Harrington said the restructuring would help position the business for the future. He also expressed confidence that Flutter’s scale would allow it to gain market share.

However, the consultation means the final number of redundancies has not yet been determined. The announcement sets out the proposed scale of the changes rather than confirming 1,400 departures.

Gambling operators respond to tax increases

Remote gaming duty increased from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026. A higher 25% rate for remote betting, excluding horse racing, is scheduled to take effect in April 2027, up from 15%.

Flutter’s announcement adds to a series of workforce reductions and proposed shop closures across the sector.

Betfred announced plans in August to close up to 132 betting shops and reduce its workforce by more than 600 employees. Evoke also announced the closure of approximately 200 William Hill shops earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Bet365 outlined plans to cut around 340 jobs in September, citing tax-related costs. Flutter itself has been considering the closure of up to 100 Paddy Power shops.

The measures show how operators are adjusting staffing and retail estates as the higher duties increase pressure on operating margins.

Machine games duty remains in focus

Attention is now turning to the forthcoming Autumn Budget, with calls for higher machine games duty adding uncertainty for retail operators.

The Social Market Foundation has proposed a 40% rate for higher-risk Category B machines. Labour MPs have also urged the government to increase the duty.

Any further rise would create another cost pressure for businesses already reviewing their operations. For Flutter employees, however, the immediate focus is the redundancy consultation and how the proposed restructuring will affect their roles.