Betfred’s pre-tax profit hit £64m in a year that ended before the latest duty rises took effect.
The hit
Betfred reported a pre-tax profit for 2025-26, according to accounts filed with Companies House, even as it plans to shut 132 betting shops & cut about 600 jobs over rising UK gambling taxes. The bookmaker is also ending its Super League sponsorship at the close of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
Owner Fred Done has already warned the firm could close its entire UK shop network because of the higher tax burden. For bettors, fewer shops & less sponsorship spend point to a shrinking retail footprint & tighter marketing budgets ahead.
The record
| Pre-tax profit | £64m for 52 weeks to 29 March 2026 (Companies House) |
|---|---|
| Shop closures | 132 betting shops, about 10% of the retail network |
| Jobs lost | around 600 roles |
| Retail vs online turnover | £544m retail, £451.7m online, split roughly 55/45 |
| Tax & duty deductions | £147.4m betting duty, £54.5m machine gaming duty, £18.6m statutory betting duty |
| Remote Gaming Duty rise | 21% to 40% from April 2026, after the reporting period ended |
What happens next
Watch for Betfred’s next annual accounts, which should capture the higher Remote Gaming Duty rate. A new 25% General Betting Duty rate is also due next year, though it is unclear if it falls inside that reporting period.
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