Entain Pulls UK Retail Betting From Ropes; Contract Signals Hope

Entain has attempted to restore some hope over the prospect of retail betting being revived after clinching a three-year contract to power its land-based infrastructure services in the UK.

Given the series of crushing blows retail betting has taken, the Ladbrokes Coral owner signed off on a multi-year deal with leading IT services provider Barron McCann. Although the new technology has been in place since the start of the 2026 World Cup, it will be utilised across more than 2,000 retail locations and it could present a much-needed lifeline to the operator.

Retail betting continually hammered

Over the past 12 months, the flagging retail betting industry has been forced to roll with the punches. Last November, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, confirmed a draconian set of gambling tax rises. In April, the remote gambling duty (RGD) paid on online casino bets jumped from 21% of gross gambling yield (GGY) to 40%.

Meanwhile, in April 2027, general duty paid on online sports betting will climb from 15% to 25%, but horseracing will be exempt from the planned increase. Inevitably, retail betting companies have been forced to scale back massively to reset their ambitions.

Evoke, William Hill’s parent company, closed 200 of its betting shops in May as a means to offset mounting debt levels. More recently, Betfred shut down 132 land-based venues due to the rising gambling tax rates, and up to 600 jobs could be cut in the process.

That aside, other betting giants, such as Flutter, owner of Paddy Power, Betfair, and Sky Bet, have had to tighten their belts. Aside from recently delisting from the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the gambling behemoth has taken concerted steps to reduce its promotional and marketing spend.

A good sign for the industry?

While it is no secret that retail betting has faced serious adversity, the contract signed by Entain suggests land-based betting isn’t necessarily dead in the water. Rather, having a trusted technology partner on its side indicates that Entain is dedicated to improving the overall customer experience, especially for those who feel more comfortable placing wagers at shops.

Despite a 1% year-on-year slump for Entain according to its Q1 2025 financial report, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) suggested there is still cause for optimism. In the March 2025 to April 2026 financial year, there were 5,569 active shops in Great Britain, while total GGY generated from land-based arcades, betting shops, bingo halls, and casinos amounted to £1.2 billion.

Keeping with the times

Ladbrokes and Coral have a rich history and are a fundamental part of Britain’s social fabric. Both are reputable brands, with Ladbrokes’ origins dating back to the Victorian period, while the latter was established in 1926.

The two merged in 2016 to create the high-street betting behemoth, but retail is ultimately at the heart of Entain’s identity. Therefore, Ladbrokes Coral has had to keep up with the times, and evolving its digital services will surely delight its customers.

Too early to write off retail betting?

Even though retail betting has been sounded the death knell by its critics, and there have been wholesale changes taking place across the industry, Entain isn’t ready to fade into obscurity.

If anything, Entain is prepared to elevate the retail experience. A new technological partnership could reap dividends and ensure Entain continues to be relevant on Britain’s high streets in the years to come.