March 5 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes-owner Entain said on Thursday its annual loss after tax widened, after the company took a larger-than-expected 488 million pound ($650.3 million) charge related to the UK
Ladbrokes-owner Entain's profits climb; to offset UK tax rise with cost cuts
Entain's Financial Performance and Strategic Response to UK Tax Increases
By Yamini Kalia
March 5 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes-owner Entain posted slightly better-than-expected annual profit on Thursday and said group-wide cost cuts would offset the impact of more than 50% of Britain's online gambling tax increases, sending its shares up nearly 8%.
Impact of UK Tax Increase on the Gambling Market
The results underscore how the UK's steep tax increase is reshaping the gambling market, with Entain's global scale and diverse portfolio helping it absorb the hit better than smaller rivals and gain market share as competitors struggle under the new regime.
Cost-Cutting Measures and Use of AI
"We're using AI a lot now, so our production costs, asset generation costs have gone down," CEO Stella David told Reuters, adding that the company has implemented measures to reduce marketing and promotion costs.
Mitigation Strategies for Tax Hikes
Entain expects about 200 million pounds in additional annual costs from the UK's proposed gambling tax hikes and plans to mitigate about 25% this year and more than 50% in 2027.
Financial Results and Impairment Charges
The company, which owns Ladbrokes and Coral and operates BetMGM in the United States, booked a 488 million pound non-cash impairment charge against its UK business after the government's decision in November to sharply raise online gambling duties from April.
That resulted in a loss after tax of 680.5 million pounds in the year ended December.
Entain logged 1.16 billion pounds in underlying core profit for 2025, beating expectations of 1.11 billion to 1.15 billion pounds, according to a company-compiled poll.
Growth in Online Gaming and BetMGM Joint Venture
The company has benefited from an accelerating shift to online gaming and sports betting, especially through its BetMGM joint venture with MGM Resorts in the United States, even as UK tax hikes weighed on operations.
BetMGM's Contribution and Analyst Commentary
"Both parents are extremely proud of our child," CFO Rob Wood told Reuters, while David noted that the business has become a valuable asset to Entain and MGM Resorts.
Peel Hunt analyst Ivor Jones also called the BetMGM business a "standout", after it distributed $270 million its parent companies during 2025.
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
