Entain to cut 400 jobs in customer care division

(Sharecast News) - Ladbrokes owner Entain is planning to cut around 400 jobs in its customer care division amid an "increasingly challenging operating environment".

The company has launched a consultation as it looks to lay off one in five of its employees in the division.

Chief executive Stella David has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham explaining the decision. "The proposed changes are being made to ensure our business remains competitive, financially resilient and well positioned for the future as our sector faces an increasingly challenging operating environment," she said.

"This decision has not been made lightly, and our immediate priority is to support those of our colleagues who may be impacted through this transition."

From 1 April 2026, remote gaming duty rose to 40% from 21%, while a new general betting duty remote betting rate of 25%, up from 15%, will take effect from 1 April next year.

David said in the letter that doubling the standard rate of machine games duty (MGD) to 40% would add around £100m to the yearly cost of running Entain's UK retail business. It could result in up to 1,470 betting shop closures and 15,900 job losses, she said, and a net loss to the Exchequer of around £120m.

"These are not theoretical efficiencies in a financial model. They are people losing their jobs and communities losing long-established high-street businesses," said David.

At 1050 BST, shares of Entain - which also owns Coral and Sportingbet - were down 1% at 493.20p.