Paddy Power considering closure of 100 betting shops. September 4, 2026 Flutter Entertainment has revealed that it's reviewing up to 100 Paddy Power betting shops in the UK and Ireland for potential closure, with around 400 jobs expected to be affected by the shutdowns. The review comes as the operator faces higher gambling taxes and rising costs for its retail business, and the shops currently under review could close before the end of 2026, although Flutter hasn't confirmed which locations could be affected. At the moment, Flutter operates 506 Paddy Power shops, of which 310 are in the UK, and 196 are located in Ireland. A Flutter spokesperson shared: "We are incredibly proud of our high street estate, and it remains a key part of our business in communities across the UK and Ireland. Unfortunately, we have had to take the extremely difficult decision to conduct this review. Our immediate priority at this time is to support those colleagues affected by this announcement." The company also pointed to higher operating costs, including rents, energy, employment, and business rates, as factors putting pressure on betting shops. Paddy Power employs more than 2,300 people, but the betting shop closures are expected to affect around a fifth of the operator's retail estate in both markets. The company further shared that it would work to redeploy staff members in cases where it's possible. Alla Basentsyan Content Writer As a content writer at AffPapa, Alla focuses on daily coverage of iGaming news, writes in-depth articles on the most relevant topics of the sector, and presents insights from industry professionals through dedicated interviews. She combines her background in research with an engaging and informative approach to help readers stay up-to-date with everything that's happening in global iGaming markets.

Flutter Entertainment initiates review of up to 100 Paddy Power shops. Flutter Entertainment has announced a strategic review of its retail estate that could result in the closure of up to 100 Paddy Power betting shops across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The potential contraction represents approximately 20 percent of the brand's total brick-and-mortar footprint across both jurisdictions and places roughly 400 positions at risk of redundancy. Management attributed the measure to escalating operational expenses, macroeconomic uncertainty, and recent fiscal policy adjustments impacting the gambling sector. Operational drivers and fiscal impact. The review encompasses a substantial portion of Paddy Power's 506 licensed premises, which currently comprise 310 shops in the UK and 196 in Ireland. The operator cited a combination of structural market challenges and immediate fiscal headwinds as the primary catalysts for the decision. In addition to rising property rents, energy bills, and business rates, the company emphasized the cumulative financial impact of increased gambling taxes enacted in the previous UK budget. To mitigate the employment impact, Flutter confirmed that redeployment options will be made available to affected personnel wherever feasible during the consultation process. Industry-Wide high street trends. Addressing the strategic assessment, a spokesperson for Flutter UK and Ireland highlighted the underlying commercial pressures facing traditional betting venues: "We are incredibly proud of our high street estate, and it remains a key part of our business in communities across the UK and Ireland. Unfortunately, we have had to take the extremely difficult decision to conduct this review. The high street trading environment has been challenging for a number of years given rising costs, fierce competition, economic uncertainty and the shift to online, but we also face a material impact from the higher gambling taxes announced in last year's UK Budget. Our immediate priority at this time is to support those colleagues affected by this announcement." The development reflects a broader structural contraction across the UK and Irish retail betting markets. Competing operators, including Betfred and Evoke, have similarly rationalized their physical shop networks in recent months, citing comparable tax adjustments and operational costs while consumer engagement continues to shift toward digital channels.

Flutter and EPIC expand safer gambling across FAI clubs. Flutter Entertainment and EPIC Global Solutions will extend their safer gambling programme to all 15 FAI National League clubs by the end of 2026. The initiative has already reached more than 2,000 League of Ireland players and staff. Safer gambling education expands across irish football. Flutter Entertainment and EPIC Global Solutions will extend a safer gambling programme across the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) National League. The programme will include all 15 founding National League clubs by the end of 2026. Since January, it has reached more than 2,000 League of Ireland players and FAI staff. Expansion across the FAI National League. The FAI National League is the third tier of Ireland's football pyramid. The competition began for the first time last month. EPIC has delivered more than 70 workshops through the programme. League of Ireland officials said the sessions provide insights for targeted support messaging and harm prevention strategies. Garret Higgins, Interim FAI National Competitions Lead, commented: "The impact of this programme across the League of Ireland has been a huge success story. So naturally, we're incredibly grateful to see this extended to our new FAI National League teams." Flutter's safer gambling investment. Flutter's expansion in Ireland follows a $139m (£102m) investment in EPIC's safer gambling capabilities worldwide. The operator allocated around $75m of that investment to the UK and Ireland. Flutter owns Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet. Wider responsible gambling initiatives. Flutter recently launched a Centre of Excellence in Leeds. The hub focuses on collaboration, learning and experimentation in responsible gambling and customer protection. Last month, Flutter also extended its partnership with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Annual funding will rise from £25,000 to £36,000. EPIC workshops and player awareness. EPIC has worked with Flutter for several years and has delivered similar programmes across multiple sports markets. Paul Buck, Chief Executive Officer of EPIC, said the League of Ireland partnership had produced strong results. Player confidence in gambling awareness knowledge has reached 89%, according to Buck. Paul Buck, Chief Executive Officer at EPIC, commented: "Our work across sports shows strong results, and the League of Ireland partnership is among the most effective. Some 89% of players now feel confident in their gambling awareness, which reflects the value of education delivered by former players. Expanding to FAI National League teams will extend this impact across the pathway."