Flutter Entertainment is reviewing up to 100 Paddy Power betting shops across the UK and Ireland, putting approximately 400 roles at risk. The company announced the review on Thursday, September 3, 2026. It cited higher UK gambling taxes, rising operating costs, competition, economic uncertainty and the shift from shop-based betting to online services.

SBC News reported that the review does not mean all 100 shops will close. Flutter said affected employees could be offered redeployment where suitable roles exist. Staff will be consulted during the process.

The company has not published a breakdown of the locations under review. It has also not confirmed how many sites or jobs could be affected in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or Ireland.

What the review could change

Paddy Power operates 506 betting offices, including 310 in the UK and 196 in Ireland, with more than 2,300 employees, according to Racing Post.

If all 100 locations closed, the combined estate would shrink by roughly one in five shops. That is an upper-limit calculation. Flutter has not said how many closures, if any, will follow the review.

Flutter said its high street business remains important to communities across the UK and Ireland. The company attributed the pressure to several factors, including rents, business rates, energy bills, competition and the migration of customers to online betting.

Why gambling tax is part of the dispute

The latest UK tax changes primarily target remote gambling rather than betting shops. HM Revenue and Customs increased Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% for accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2026.

  • Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% from April 1, 2026.
  • A separate 25% remote betting rate under General Betting Duty is scheduled for April 1, 2027.
  • Remote bets on UK horse racing remain excluded from that new rate.

Flutter has said the higher taxes will materially affect its earnings. The company is responding with cost reductions and changes to its retail estate.

The tax measures apply to remote gambling profits, not directly to shop leases or shop turnover. The connection between the tax increases and the shop review is Flutter's stated explanation for its wider cost response.

"The high street trading environment has been challenging for a number of years," a Flutter UK and Ireland spokesperson said, citing higher costs, competition, economic uncertainty and the shift to online gambling.

Pressure across Britain's high streets

Paddy Power's review follows shop-reduction plans from other major operators. Betfred has announced plans to close 132 shops. Evoke, the owner of William Hill, has chosen to close 270 locations after a strategic review, according to Racing Post.

The Gambling Commission recorded 5,782 betting shops in Great Britain between July and September 2025. The figure covers Great Britain only. It does not show how many Paddy Power locations currently operate in England, Scotland or Wales.

The Gambling Commission figure cannot be combined directly with Flutter's UK and Ireland estate. The two figures cover different geographic areas and business groupings.

The reduction in shop numbers could also affect the wider racing economy. Betting shops contribute through betting-related taxes, levy payments and media rights arrangements. The financial impact of Paddy Power's review has not been quantified.

What happens next

  • Flutter will assess the Paddy Power locations under review.
  • Employees will be consulted during the process.
  • Redeployment may be offered where suitable roles exist.
  • No final closure list has been published.
  • No confirmed UK job-loss figure has been released.

The review adds to the debate over whether Britain's regulated betting-shop network can remain viable as costs rise, customer activity moves online and further tax changes approach.

For now, the confirmed development is a formal review, not a completed closure programme.