Entain Plans 400 UK Customer Care Job Cuts While Directly Lobbying Burnham Against MGD Doubling
Entain will cut up to 400 of 2,000 UK customer care jobs, citing tax-driven simplification. CEO Stella David has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging the Makerfield test be applied to block MGD doubling, which she says would add £100m in annual costs and trigger widespread shop closures. The appeal follows prior duty hikes and 500 earlier redundancies.
SCCG Take — The direct appeal to Burnham underscores how fiscal decisions now drive measurable retail contraction for operators. Policymakers risk accelerating job losses in precisely the communities the Makerfield test was meant to protect.
Entain is preparing to cut up to 400 of its 2,000 UK customer care roles, linking the reductions to tax pressures it describes as forcing a “simplification” of the division. The operator has escalated its lobbying with a direct letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham ahead of the Autumn Budget, warning of harm to jobs and high-street businesses if Chancellor John Healey doubles Machine Games Duty (MGD).
Stella David, Entain’s Chief Executive Officer, invoked Burnham’s ‘Makerfield test’ – a policy focused on supporting communities long overlooked by central government. She argued that many of the company’s more than 2,300 betting shops have anchored local economies for decades.
“I hope that, before any decision is taken on MGD, the government will look beyond the headline tax rate and consider the real-world consequences for the people whose livelihoods depend on these businesses and the communities in which they operate,” said David.
She added that a substantial MGD increase “would therefore bear directly on many of the people and places the Makerfield Test is intended to support.” The letter closes by urging that the voices of affected communities be heard before the 28 October 2026 Budget announcement.
Tax Increases Already Reshaping Retail Operations
This appeal follows earlier duty rises implemented under former Chancellor Rachael Reeves. Remote Gaming Duty increased from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026, with General Betting Duty rising from 15% to 25% from April 2027. As reported by SBC News, these changes have already contributed to Entain’s planned exit from the FTSE 100 after six years and prompted shop closures across operators including William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfred.
Proposed MGD changes would double the lower rate from 5% to 10%, lift the standard rate from 20% to 40%, and raise the higher rate from 25% to 50%. David stated that doubling the standard rate alone would add around £100m to Entain’s annual retail costs. The company cites Betting and Gaming Council data forecasting 1,470 shop closures and 15,900 job losses industry-wide.
Prior Cuts and the Role of Technology
The latest reductions follow Entain’s July decision to cut 500 jobs, mainly in corporate, product and technology areas, where taxes were again cited. The source notes that tax burdens may be accelerating an underlying shift toward automation and AI already underway across betting firms.
David emphasized the human stakes: “They are people losing their jobs and communities losing long-established high-street businesses. These jobs matter. They matter particularly in communities where good local employment can be difficult to find.”
Reporting: SBC News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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