Ladbrokes to shut 39 Irish betting shops amid online gambling surge
Ladbrokes has announced plans to close up to 39 betting shops in the Republic of Ireland. The move follows a broader trend of declining retail revenue and shifting customer habits toward online gambling. If all proposed closures go ahead, the company's Irish presence will shrink by more than a third. The planned closures come as Ladbrokes' parent company, Entain, reported a 2% drop in retail revenue across the UK and Ireland. Rising operating costs, stricter regulations, and growing competition from unlicensed gambling sites have added pressure. Over the past five years, the number of Ladbrokes shops in Ireland has already fallen from around 65 in 2021 to about 45 today.
A separate review is also underway for six shops in Northern Ireland, which may face similar shutdowns. The company expects to complete the process by the end of May, pending consultations. Around 226 jobs are now at risk, though Ladbrokes will retain roughly 350 staff across its remaining locations.
The shift reflects wider industry changes, with online betting becoming the dominant revenue source in Ireland. Other major operators, including Flutter Entertainment and William Hill, have also scaled back their physical shops in recent years. If all closures proceed, Ladbrokes will operate fewer than 10 shops across Ireland. The company has cited financial pressures and evolving customer preferences as key factors. The remaining branches will continue serving customers, though with a significantly reduced workforce.
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