Entain to Cut 400 Jobs as Gambling Tax Bites

One of the UK gambling sector's biggest employers is to cut 400 jobs in a fresh blow to the industry.

Entain, who own Coral, Ladbrokes and a host of other popular sites, have revealed that the redundancies have been forced by the ‘challenging trading environment’ that the UK market, in the wake of tax increases, is experiencing.

It’s just the latest round of job cuts, with both Paddy Power and Bet365 revealing this month that they have been forced to make redundancies as mitigation against the Gambling Tax hike.

And there are now fears that if Machine Gaming Duty (MGD) is hiked by the government in their next Autumn Budget, more venue closures – and thus job losses – will be the outcome.

Job Cuts

By even the most conservative estimate, it’s thought that the UK gambling industry has lost more than 2,500 workers in 2026 so far.

Many of the sector’s big guns – including Bet365 and Paddy Power alongside Betfred and the Evoke Group – have been forced to make mass job cuts as they seek ways to slash operating costs.

In last November’s apocalyptic Autumn Budget, the then chancellor Rachel Reeves almost doubled Remote Gaming Duty to 40% from 21%, which was a calamitous outcome for online casino operators and sportsbooks that offer slots, blackjack, roulette, etc.

That tax hike was rolled out in April of this year, while next April another duty increase – this time on online sports bets – will see a further 10% cut from the revenue of UK operators.

Challenging Environment

As if all that wasn’t enough, there are even rumours that a third tax grab – this time via Machine Gaming Duty (MGD) – could see millions more wiped off the profit and loss account of gambling firms.

Unfortunately, it’s the employees that suffer the most ultimately… as the 2,500+ who are now seeking alternative work can testify.

Entain’s consultation could see up to 20% of their customer support team – 400 of 2,000 – made redundant. It follows cutbacks in July that saw 500 workers, which is approximately 2% of the firm’s entire staff, laid off.

Stella David, the Entain CEO, remarked that the ‘decision has not been made lightly’ as the firm seeks ways to cut costs with immediate effect.

Machine Gaming Duty Hike

David has also written to the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to fire a warning over any possible MGD hikes this November.

Burnham’s chancellor, John Healey, is expected to increase Machine Gaming Duty in his Autumn Budget – with reports suggesting he could double the amount taken to 40%.

The gaming machines are a mainstay of betting shops, bingo halls and other gambling venues, with a tax increase likely to make many of those properties unprofitable to run.

As such, there will be countless more closures and redundancies, with David herself predicting that a staggering 15,900 jobs could be lost if the machines are taxed so extravagantly.