Entain’s latest research has revealed that illegal gambling operators are increasingly targeting UK users through social media platforms, with activity set to rise during the...
Entain to potentially sell Central & Eastern European venture
According to reports from Reuters, Entain is considering a potential sale of its Central and Eastern European (CEE) joint venture as the company is facing financial difficulties connected to the tax rises in the UK.
After the announcement of the tax hikes, Entain’s shares have dropped by 30% since November 2025, and the operator has since been under pressure to reduce costs. For context, the tax rate on online gambling is set to increase from 21% to 40%, while the sports betting tax will jump from 15% to 25%.
The report stated:
“One option under consideration is for the London-listed company, which has a market value of $4.63 billion, to sell its holding to Czech investment firm EMMA Capital, its joint venture partner, two of the people said. Proceeds raised could be used to pay down debt, one of the people added. Discussions are in the early stages and there is no certainty that a transaction will be agreed, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are private.”
First created in 2022, the CEE venture was established after the acquisition of Croatian SuperSport by Entain and EMMA Capital, after which it expanded with the purchase of the Polish STS operator. Additionally, Entain CEE reported a 6% year-on-year decrease in net gaming revenue during Q1 2026.
Representatives from Entain haven’t addressed or commented on the potential sale reports, with EMMA Capital sharing that it would neither confirm nor deny the speculations.
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