TLDR
- Betfred will close 132 betting shops in the UK, putting around 600 jobs at risk.
- The closures mark more than 10% of Betfred’s total estate, leaving about 1,100 shops open.
- Betfred blames higher National Insurance costs, wage inflation, and rising gambling taxes for the decision.
- The UK government raised remote gaming duty from 21% to 40%, with online sports betting duty set to rise to 25% in 2027.
- Rivals William Hill, Paddy Power, and Ladbrokes have also announced shop closures in recent months.
Betfred has confirmed it will close 132 betting shops across the United Kingdom. The closures will begin in September and put around 600 jobs at risk.
The company started a consultation process with staff on July 31. The closures represent just over 10% of Betfred’s total shop count.
Once the closures are complete, Betfred will run about 1,100 shops. That is down from around 1,680 shops at its peak in 2017.
Betfred was founded in 1967 by brothers Fred and Peter Done. The company is based in Warrington and employs around 7,500 people.
Why Betfred Is Closing Shops
Betfred pointed to rising costs as the main reason for the closures. These include higher employer National Insurance contributions, wage inflation, and increased gambling taxes.
Chief Executive Jo Whittaker said the company tried hard to protect all its sites. She said the combined pressure of these costs left the company with no other choice.
Whittaker said the shops being closed are well run and staffed by committed employees. She said the company will now focus on supporting affected staff.
Fred Done, whose family wealth is estimated at £3.61 billion, called the tax changes the biggest threat he has faced in nearly six decades in the industry.
The UK government’s autumn budget raised the remote gaming duty on online casino revenue from 21% to 40% in April 2026. A new online sports betting duty will rise from 15% to 25% in April 2027.
Each betting shop contributes around £30,000 a year to horse racing through levy and media rights payments. The closure of 132 shops could cost the sport about £4 million a year.
Other Bookmakers Face Similar Pressure
Betfred is not alone in cutting back. William Hill is working to close about 200 shops in the UK.
Paddy Power announced last October that it would close 57 shops across the UK and Ireland. That move put around 250 jobs at risk.
Ladbrokes has also closed shops across Ireland, affecting about 500 jobs. Evoke, the parent company of William Hill and 888, said in January it moved quickly to cut costs and close shops.
While reducing its betting shop count, Betfred is reportedly looking at a shift toward Adult Gaming Centers, also known as slot arcades. Sources told NEXT.io that Betfred plans to convert some shops into these venues.
Betfred has already acquired a small slot arcade operation with up to seven venues. This deal could give the company access to licenses needed to expand into this space.
Slot arcades face their own regulatory challenges. Policy institutes have proposed raising the Machine Games Duty to 40%, which could limit growth in that sector.
Betfred has not made final decisions on which shops will convert into slot arcades. The company’s main focus for now remains supporting staff affected by the closures.
