Home › News › Rules and licensing
Rules and licensingFlutter plans job cuts as taxes and duties hit the gambling sector
Labour politicians push for higher machine taxes while Flutter slashes jobs across the UK and Ireland.
Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 24 October 2026
A group of politicians recently asked the Chancellor to raise the machine games duty rate on specific slot machines before the upcoming Budget. These members of parliament suggest that doubling the tax rate could bring in hundreds of millions of pounds for the public purse. Representatives for betting shops argue that this move would force thousands of staff out of work and close hundreds of venues.
Tax rises lead to job losses
Flutter Entertainment announced plans to cut up to 1,400 jobs across its UK and Ireland operations. This massive restructuring affects roughly sixteen percent of the regional workforce and follows recent increases in betting taxes. Staff based in Dublin, Leeds, and other international hubs face consultation as the company tries to reduce operating costs.
European market trends and results
France reported slow gambling growth during the first half of the year as online betting drove the entire sector forward. Sports betting saw a notable boost thanks to the start of the World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, operators like Betsson and Evolution shared their latest financial results with the market.
New player limits in Spain
Spain launched a joint deposit limit system designed to track a user's spending across multiple betting accounts. The default limits cap daily, weekly, and monthly deposits unless players request changes. Regulators believe this system will protect vulnerable customers who use several different bookmakers at once.
Increased taxes and stricter deposit rules across Europe could change how major bookmakers operate and how punters place their bets.