Entain Cuts 400 More Jobs Amid UK Tax

Entain Trims Workforce Again

Entain, the parent company of partypoker and the co-owner of BetMGM, is eliminating another 400 positions. The move comes as steep new gambling tax increases in the United Kingdom work their way through the industry.

The company owns half of BetMGM, the United States-facing operator behind BetMGM Poker. The other half is held by MGM Resorts International.

Why the Cuts Are Happening

The job reductions reflect broader pressure on operators with significant UK exposure. The British government has raised gambling taxes sharply, and those increases are rippling across companies that run sportsbooks, casinos, and poker rooms in the market.

For a business like Entain, which operates both retail and online gambling brands, higher taxes reduce margins on existing revenue. Operators typically respond by cutting costs, consolidating teams, and reviewing marketing and technology spending.

What This Means for Poker

partypoker is one of the better-known online poker rooms under the Entain umbrella. BetMGM Poker operates in the US market as part of the BetMGM joint venture.

The cuts announced by Entain are corporate in nature and do not, on their own, indicate a change to either poker product. Still, workforce reductions at a parent company can affect product teams, customer support, and marketing resources over time.

A Wider Industry Pattern

Entain is not alone in adjusting to the new UK tax environment. Operators across the market have been reviewing costs as the effective tax burden on gambling rises. The pattern is familiar: when tax rates climb, companies look for savings in staffing, technology, and promotional spend.

For poker players, the practical effects are usually indirect. A leaner operator may invest less in tournament guarantees, promotions, or software development. It may also focus more on markets outside the UK, where tax treatment is more favorable.

BetMGM and the US Picture

BetMGM remains a major presence in the US online gambling market, including poker in states where it is regulated. Entain's stake in the joint venture ties part of its fortunes to the American market, which has been a growth area for operators even as the UK becomes more expensive to serve.

That split exposure matters. A company facing higher UK costs can lean on US growth, but it cannot fully offset tax-driven margin pressure in its home market.

What to Watch

• Whether further cost-cutting follows at Entain or its brands
• How partypoker's promotions and tournament schedule respond
• Whether BetMGM's US poker footprint expands or holds steady
• How other UK-facing operators react to the same tax pressure

The Bottom Line

Entain's latest round of job cuts is a direct response to a tougher UK tax environment. For poker players, the immediate impact is limited, but the direction of travel matters. Operators under margin pressure tend to spend less on the products players care about, and they look harder at where their money is best deployed. Entain's dual position, as the parent of partypoker and half-owner of BetMGM, means its decisions will be felt on both sides of the Atlantic.