Retail Customer Service Manager

Q3 2026: UK online surge pushes Entain net gaming revenue up 2%. Online NGR was up 3% year-on-year but 8% higher when excluding Brazil Double-digit online growth in the UK helped push group net gaming revenue (NGR) at Entain up 2% during the third quarter, though the recent shutdown in Brazil resulted in a decline in its international business. Reporting in a trading update, Entain did not publish full financial figures, with these due at a later stage when the Q3 data is published in full. However, the group did offer insight into its various business segments. Group online NGR was 3% higher, helped by an 8% rise in gaming revenue but partly offset by a 3% drop in sports NGR and the impact of the situation in Brazil. In late September, President Lula signed an order banning online sports betting and casino gaming in the country. Incidentally, Entain said that excluding Brazil, total online NGR was 8% higher year-on-year. As for retail performance, total NGR for the segment was 2% lower, with both retail gaming and sports betting NGR down 1%. The sports wagering dip came despite a 5% rise in wagers during Q3. "I'm pleased with our Q3 performance," said CEO Stella David. "It reflects the strength of our execution and reinforces the resilience of our globally scaled business as well as its ability to consistently deliver high-quality growth." Entain surpasses expectations in the UK and Ireland. Breaking down the performance further, Entain noted a better-than-expected performance in the UK and Ireland, with total NGR for the region up 8% in Q3. This was driven by a 14% rise in online NGR, with gaming NGR up 17% and sports NGR 3%. There was also marginal growth in retail, with NGR edging up 1% following a 1% rise in both gaming and sports betting NGR. Entain said the growth reflected its "strategic execution and investment" in the region, against the background of an "increasingly challenging" tax environment. Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) increased from 21% to 40% at the start of April, while a new rate of General Betting Duty (GBD) will be introduced at 25% next year. On this, David once again urged the UK government to think carefully over further tax rises on gambling, warning this could lead to further job losses in the sector. Entain recently said as many as 400 customer care jobs could be lost across its business to mitigate the impact of higher UK tax rates. "Both online and retail are important parts of our business and valued contributors to tax revenues and local communities," David said. "We strongly urge the UK government to carefully consider any further gambling tax increases which would threaten the viability of many shops, jobs and livelihoods." 'Disciplined' approach in Brazil. Turning to its international business, NGR was 4% lower overall. Online NGR dropped 3% amid a 5% fall in gaming NGR and 2% decline in sports betting NGR. There were greater declines in retail, with NGR for the international business down 12% in Q3. Entain did not publish NGR for retail gaming activities, but did reveal a 7% decline in sports NGR despite a 13% rise in retail wagers. Reflecting on the international business as a whole, Entain referenced the situation in Brazil, with NGR in the country down 36%. However, it also highlighted "disciplined marketing and player engagement" prior to the ban coming into effect last month. Elsewhere, Australia online NGR was flat at 1%, in line with expectations, while New Zealand, Spain and Canada continued to perform strongly, delivering double-digit online NGR growth. Italy NGR dipped 6%, where strong volume growth was offset by customer friendly football results. In addition, Entain made reference to its discontinued operations in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Entain agreed to sell a 20% stake in its CEE joint venture to existing partner EMMA Capital in June. For CEE discontinued operations, NGR was flat year-on-year, with online up 4% and retail down 22%. The group said this reflected double-digit online growth in Poland, though this was offset by an adverse sports margin in Croatia. Entain reiterates full-year guidance. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Entain reiterated guidance provided after the ban in Brazil came into effect a few weeks ago. This works on the assumption the ban will be upheld for the remainder of 2026. On this, FY26 online NGR is set to increase by between 4% and 6% on a constant currency basis. Excluding Brazil, FY26 Online NGR growth is expected to be at the top end of 5% to 7% range. Underlying EBITDA for the business is set to be at the lower end of the £910m to £960m range, while online underlying EBITDA margin is on track to be between 21% and 22%. As for BetMGM, which published its Q3 results earlier this week, net revenue for the joint venture with MGM Resorts International is still expected to hit between $2.9bn and $3.1bn, and adjusted EBITDA from $300m to $350m. "The underlying momentum we are seeing across our diverse portfolio supports our confidence in reiterating FY26 guidance," David said. "I am confident our disciplined focus on growth and optimisation will deliver strong future cash-generation, and that Entain remains well positioned to be a long-term industry winner."

'MGD rise endangers thousands of jobs': BGC. Betting shops provide vital employment for young people, argues the BGC. October 13, 2026 Regulatory The UK's Betting and Gaming Council has warned that thousands of jobs will be put at risk if Machine Games Duty (MGD) is raised to 40 per cent. The BGC stressed that the government should protect the 36,000 people currently employed in betting shops across the nation. 80 per cent of those jobs are based outside London and provide "vital employment" in market towns, former industrial communities and seaside towns, including across the North of England. More than half of such employees are under 35 and almost one in five betting shop employees (19 per cent) is under 25. Therefore, the BGC claimed, for many young people, betting shops provide a first step into employment, offering valuable skills in customer service, cash handling and responsibility, alongside clear opportunities to progress into management. Betting shops provide vital employment. "The Chancellor should be under no illusion," said Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the BGC. "Another tax rise would put thousands of those livelihoods on the line. Independent EY modelling shows that raising Machine Games Duty to 40 per cent could cost up to 16,000 jobs, put almost 1,500 betting shops and 34 casinos at risk, and leave the Treasury £124m worse off. "That would mean fewer jobs, more empty units on struggling high streets and less money for public services. Nobody wins. "Last year, the Treasury said it wanted to support fun, social, in-person gambling because land-based betting provides greater levels of employment. Those were the right words then, and they must mean something now. "At a time when ministers want to get more young people into work and revive Britain's high streets, taxing these businesses out of existence would be completely self-defeating. "Our message to the Chancellor is simple: rule out any increase in Machine Games Duty, assess the damage already caused by higher taxes and halt the planned rise in General Betting Duty. This Budget must back Britain's betting shops, not cost our towns thousands more jobs." Ladborkes and Coral owner Entain has joined with BGC in creating the What's At Stake campaign opposing the MGD rise. The Autumn Budget is due on October 28.

Entain's international racing manager Hutton departs after 20 years. Ben Hutton has joined Pythia Sports as its head of trading. October 07, 2026 Entain's international racing manager Ben Hutton, who has been with the group for 20 years, has revealed his departure for Pythia Sports. Hutton joined the Gala Coral Group in August 2005 as the head of its international racing product. He has been with the company throughout its transition into Ladbrokes Coral, GVC Group and now Entain. Hutton has led the group's international racing operations throughout his two-decade stint. He now moves to the supplier sector with Pythia Sports as its head of trading. New chapter for Entain veteran. "After 20 years, this week is my last one working for the wonderful Entain," Hutton said on LinkedIn. "This company, and specifically the international racing product, has been my life and baby for a very long time, so it's going to be very weird for that to no longer be the case." "I'm very excited to be joining Pythia Sports next week as head of trading, merging my bookmaker experience with the supplier side of the industry," Hutton added. He labelled it a "very different challenge after 20 years on one side of the fence, and one I'm really looking forward to." Hutton moves on from Entain amid warnings from the company - and the UK's Betting and Gaming Council - that UK horse racing could be affected by a mooted rise in Machine Games Duty.