Flutter Cuts Up to 1,400 UK and Ireland Jobs as Tax Increases Hit Under New CEO Dan Taylor

Flutter Entertainment will cut up to 1,400 jobs in its UK and Ireland business. The reductions amount to almost 16% of the 9,000-strong workforce in the division. The restructuring comes just three weeks into Dan Taylor’s tenure as group CEO.

Remote gaming duty rose from 21% to 40% in April. Remote betting duty is scheduled to increase from 15% to 25% in April 2027. Flutter expects the duty changes to reduce adjusted EBITDA by $540 million in 2027.

Kevin Harrington, the UK and Ireland CEO, said the tax rises had “fundamentally changed” the economic models of regulated operators. He stated that the company cannot fully absorb increases of this size without reducing its fixed cost base.

Scale of Reductions Across Sites

More than 450 roles are at risk in Leeds, where Flutter employs around 1,700 people. In Dublin, around 240 jobs face cuts at the Clonskeagh headquarters, which has 1,770 staff. Those positions span finance, HR, technology, training and legal. Voluntary redundancy is being offered to affected employees.

Offshore, Betfair Romania Development expects around 300 UK and Ireland team members in Cluj-Napoca to depart. A local consultant put the figure closer to 350-400. Roles in Porto are also impacted. The restructuring will cost $80-$90 million and will be booked in Q4 2026. Retail operations are excluded from this round, though the company separately plans to close up to 100 Paddy Power shops.

Pressures Facing the New Leadership

Dan Taylor previously ran Flutter’s international division and served as group president from May with a remit to address underperforming US operations. He also led Paddy Power Betfair from 2018 to 2020. The group’s share price has fallen more than 65% over the past 12 months. It contends with rising competition from prediction markets and a temporary block on online betting in Brazil.

According to iGaming Business, the job reductions make Flutter the latest and largest operator to shed staff as the UK sector absorbs the most significant tax overhaul in recent years. Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, called the redundancies “another devastating blow to workers and families across our sector.” She urged ministers to weigh the existing damage before any further tax rises. Bet365, Betfred and Evoke have also cut jobs or shops this year.

The cuts land one week before the UK budget, with speculation that machine games duty could double to 40%. Ninety Labour MPs have pressed the chancellor for a higher rate on Category B machines. The episode shows how sharply higher duties compel even the largest operators to contract their fixed costs to protect remaining investment.

Reporting: iGaming Business (iGB)

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