Flutter Plans Up to 1,400 Job Cuts Across UK and Ireland Business

Flutter Entertainment has confirmed plans for up to 1,400 redundancies across its UK and Ireland business, replacing earlier reports that more than 1,000 positions could be cut.

The proposals, announced on October 20, remain subject to consultation. They affect employees in Leeds and Dublin, alongside staff supporting the division at Flutter’s hubs in Porto, Portugal, and Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Flutter employs approximately 9,000 people in its UK and Ireland business. The proposed maximum therefore represents around 15.6% of that workforce. 

The division includes Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair and tombola. NEXT.io reported that employees began receiving emails about the restructuring at around 8am on October 20. 

Company Links Restructuring to Higher Taxes

Flutter attributed the restructuring to gambling tax increases announced in the UK’s 2025 autumn Budget.

UK and Ireland chief executive Kevin Harrington said the business could not absorb the increases fully without reducing its fixed costs. He identified support for affected employees as his immediate priority.

The company expects implementation costs of $80 million to $90 million in the fourth quarter of 2026. It said those costs were already included in the updated guidance issued with its second-quarter results. 

Flutter has not published a complete breakdown of proposed redundancies by brand, location or function. The consultation process will determine the final outcome.

Online Gaming Duty Has Already Increased

Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% on April 1, 2026. HM Revenue and Customs applies the duty to gross profits from remote gaming with UK customers, including where the operator is based overseas. 

A separate increase will introduce a 25% remote betting rate from April 2027, with exclusions including UK horse racing, spread betting and pool betting. 

Flutter said the restructuring forms part of its previously outlined response to those changes. Management maintains that reducing costs will help preserve investment in products and support its competitive position.

Those expectations remain management’s assessment of the programme’s benefits.

Further Cuts Follow Earlier Restructuring

The announcement follows several other workforce changes across Flutter.

In July 2026, NEXT.io reported planned redundancies across PokerStars teams worldwide as part of a broader restructuring of that brand. 

An earlier consultation covering approximately 220 technology and product roles, concentrated in Leeds, was reported in June 2025. That programme predates the latest announcement. 

Paddy Power also announced a review of 100 betting shops across the UK and Ireland in September 2026, potentially affecting approximately 400 jobs, according to the Financial Times.

The latest confirmed office restructuring adds to those separate retail and brand-level reviews, with up to 1,400 positions now subject to consultation.