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Entain shuts down 39 Ladbrokes shops in Ireland
After discussions of a total sale of its Ladbrokes retail estate in Ireland to Bar One Racing collapsed, Entain has announced the decision to close 39 Ladbrokes shops in the country.
Ladbrokes has around 100 shops in Ireland, with the closure representing more than a third of its whole estate, additionally, the decision is estimated to lead to 226 staff members losing their jobs, and after the shutdowns, the company will continue employing around 350 people in Ireland.
In a statement to The Irish Times, Ladbrokes commented:
“We continually review our retail estate to ensure our business remains competitive and financially sustainable. These planned closures in the Republic of Ireland are not a decision we take lightly and reflect sustained cost pressures, long‑term changes in customer behaviour, and the growing competitive threat from the unlicensed market. Our priority now is to engage constructively with colleagues throughout the consultation process, with a strong focus on redeployment wherever possible. Ladbrokes remains committed to Ireland and to operating responsibly within a sustainable retail footprint.”
Ladbrokes stated that energy and property costs, rising labour pressure, and a refocus on online betting led to the decision.
The final closures are expected to happen in May 2026, and the company is planning to conduct formal consultations with employees who lost their jobs during the coming weeks.
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