Betfred announces plans to close 132 betting shops and cut around 600 jobs, citing gambling tax increases and the resulting financial pressures on the high-street betting sector. The company says it is launching a consultation on the closures, which it describes as affecting more than a tenth of its betting shops. Reports across outlets agree on the scale of the job losses and the number of shops involved, with timing also referenced: the cuts are planned to begin from September. Sky News and other publications frame the move as part of a wider “tax raid” on the gambling industry, while the company attributes its decision to increased costs that make it “impossible” for some shops to remain open. Sources do not describe changes to specific shop locations, but they consistently state that the closures and job reductions follow the introduction of higher gambling-related taxes. The consultation process is the key near-term step mentioned by multiple outlets, indicating that the final number of affected roles and closures may be confirmed following the discussions.