Betfred Betting Shop Closures: More Than 600 Jobs Under Threat
Published on by Zena Grantham
Betfred has confirmed plans to close 132 betting shops across the UK, placing more than 600 jobs under threat. The company cited rising employment costs, higher gambling taxes and wider economic uncertainty as the main reasons behind the decision.
The planned closures represent just over 10% of Betfred’s retail estate. A consultation with employees is now underway, and the first branches are expected to close from September 2026. Even after the programme concludes, Betfred will continue to operate almost 1,100 betting shops across the UK.
The Betfred betting shop closures arrive during a difficult period for high-street bookmakers. William Hill has confirmed the loss of hundreds of branches, while other operators have announced redundancies and further cost-cutting measures.
Why is Betfred closing retail shops?
Betfred chief executive Jo Whittaker said the company had tried to protect every branch and the people employed within them. However, she argued that several financial pressures had left the bookmaker with no alternative.
The reasons given by Betfred include:
‼️ Higher employer National Insurance contributions.
⚠️ Wage inflation.
‼️ Increases in gambling taxes.
⚠️ Wider economic uncertainty.
‼️ Continuing regulatory pressure.
Whittaker praised the employees, acknowledging their commitment during a difficult period. She added that the current fiscal and regulatory climate had made it impossible to continue operating every location.
The list of shops affected by the closure is yet to be published. Therefore, customers and employees are waiting on confirmation from Betfred.
How many Betfred employees could lose their jobs?
More than 600 employees are involved in the consultation process. That does not necessarily mean every person will lose their job, as consultations can consider redeployment and other job alternatives.
Nevertheless, the number shows the human cost behind the announcement. Betting shops often employ several people across different shifts, including managers, cashiers and customer-service staff.
Many of the branches also serve towns where retail employment has already declined. Losing another high-street business could leave fewer local jobs and another empty commercial unit.
Gambling tax rises to blame
Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026. This duty applies to profits from online casino games rather than bets taken over the counter in high-street shops. A 25% remote betting rate is due to begin in April 2027. Online bets on UK horse racing will remain at 15%.
The Treasury has rejected the suggestion that the government is directly responsible for the closures. Its response notes that the gambling duty rates applied to physical betting shops have not changed.
Retail betting duty has not increased. However, Betfred operates both retail and online businesses. Higher taxes in one area can influence investment and operating costs across the company.
Betfred also faces higher employment costs. Employer National Insurance and wage increases apply directly to its retail network, where each branch requires staff and premises.
How large is Betfred’s UK retail business?
Betfred was founded in Salford in 1967 after brothers Fred and Peter Done opened their first betting shop with winnings from England’s 1966 World Cup victory. The retail estate reached approximately 1,680 branches at its peak in 2017.
Following the latest closures, the bookmaker expects to retain almost 1,100 UK shops.
Even after the closures, Betfred will continue to operate almost 1,100 betting shops across the UK. Even so, the business is a long way from its 2017 peak of approximately 1,680 branches. The company reportedly paid almost £200 million in gambling duties during 2024–25, in addition to £14 million in business rates.
Are other UK bookmakers following suit?
Betfred is not the only bookmaker reducing its high-street presence. William Hill owner Evoke recently announced plans to close around 270 betting shops, citing rising costs and higher taxes. Hundreds of jobs are expected to disappear, although the final number has yet to be confirmed.
The wider trend is equally concerning. The UK had 8,304 betting shops in 2019. By March 2025, that number had fallen to 5,825, with more than 10,000 jobs lost across the sector.
Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, has also announced plans to cut 500 jobs from its wider workforce. Together, these decisions show the challenges facing the UK’s retail betting industry extend well beyond a single operator.
Why are high-street bookmakers under such pressure?
The decline of betting shops began long before the latest tax changes.
More customers now place bets through mobile apps and websites. An online account does not require a branch, several employees or a prominent high-street location.
Retail bookmakers also face costs that online-only operators can avoid or reduce. These include:
‼️ Rent and commercial leases;
⚠️ Business rates
‼️ Energy bills
⚠️ Security
‼️ Maintenance
⚠️ Staffing
Regulatory changes have added further pressure over the years. The reduction in maximum fixed-odds betting terminal stakes in 2019 removed an important source of retail income. Since then, operators have closed branches that no longer generate enough revenue to cover their costs.
The latest tax and employment changes have not created all the problems bookmakers are facing. They have, however, accelerated decisions concerning shops already operating on narrow margins.
What could the closures mean for horse racing?
Betting shops continue to play an important role in UK horse racing. They broadcast live meetings throughout the day while contributing to the sport through media rights, data agreements and the statutory Horserace Betting Levy. Industry estimates published after Betfred’s announcement suggest each shop contributes around £31,000 a year to racing. If 132 branches close, that could reduce annual funding by almost £4 million.
Those figures are based on industry estimates rather than data confirmed by Betfred or the government. Even so, fewer betting shops are likely to reduce the retail income flowing into the sport. Smaller racecourses could face the greatest impact, particularly as many are already dealing with rising operating costs, lower attendances and increasing competition for media revenue. Smaller racecourses could face the greatest impact, as many already operate on tight margins.
Final thoughts
The Betfred betting shop closures underline how quickly the economics of retail bookmaking are changing. The issue is no longer confined to a handful of underperforming branches. Several major operators are now reducing their estates as costs rise and more customers move online.
For Betfred, the consultation will determine the immediate outcome for more than 600 employees. The wider significance lies in what follows. If other bookmakers continue along the same path, the UK high street will lose more than familiar brands. It will also lose jobs, racing income and a form of betting that is important to many customers.