Paddy Power has announced the closure of 57 betting shops across the UK and Ireland, affecting nearly 250 employees.

The decision from Paddy Power, owned by Flutter Entertainment, follows a comprehensive review of its high street operations, driven by increasing cost pressures and challenging market conditions.

The closures will impact 29 shops in the UK, and 28 in the Republic of Ireland. A total of 247 employees will be affected – 128 in the UK, and 119 in Ireland – and will be offered redeployment opportunities where possible.

But the company has said that these closures will unfortunately lead to a number of job losses.

The move is part of a broader trend in the betting industry, where operators are facing financial pressures due to rising operational costs and a challenging retail environment.

The number of high street betting shops has been steadily declining, with industry figures showing a one-third reduction over the past eight years, from nearly 10,000 in 2017 to around 6,600 in 2025.