Flutter Entertainment plc is proposing up to 1,400 job cuts in its U.K. and Ireland business as higher British gambling taxes prompt the betting company to reduce fixed costs.
The proposed cuts reach employees in Leeds and Dublin and staff in the U.K. and Ireland division based at Flutter’s Porto and Cluj-Napoca hubs. Flutter began notifying affected workers Oct. 20. The division employs 9,000 people within a global workforce of 28,500.
Britain raised Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% on April 1, 2026. A 25% rate under General Betting Duty for most remote betting is scheduled to begin April 1, 2027. It excludes U.K. horse-racing bets, pool and spread bets, and bets made through self-service terminals.
The $80 million to $90 million estimate covers pretax charges, mainly severance and benefits, that Flutter expects in the fourth quarter. It also expects stock-based compensation charges that it cannot yet estimate and said additional costs are possible.
The company projects that the U.K. gambling tax changes will reduce its 2027 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by $540 million. Flutter expects measures it had previously outlined to offset $201 million of that impact. It said the plan would reduce fixed costs while preserving customer investment, an approach it expects to help it gain market share.
Kevin Harrington, chief executive of Flutter’s U.K. and Ireland business, said supporting affected employees was his immediate priority. The job cuts remain subject to employee consultation.
Flutter targets completion of most of the plan by the end of 2026, contingent on required legal steps, employee notices and consultations. The next betting tax change is scheduled for April 1, 2027.
