Betfred, the bookmaker founded by Fred Done, is actively exploring entry into the Adult Gaming Centre space, also known as slot arcades, according to reports.
The Warrington-based operator announced on 31 July 2026 that it would close 132 shops across the UK, representing around 10% of its total retail footprint.
The closures will result in approximately 600 job losses, dealing a significant blow to Betfred’s workforce across the country.
The decision follows the near-doubling of Remote Gaming Duty earlier in the year, with Betting Duty also set to rise from April next year.
Joanne Whittaker, CEO of Betfred, said: “These are well-run shops, staffed by dedicated colleagues, and it is incredibly hard to see any of them close, but the current fiscal and regulatory environment has made it impossible to keep trading all our shops.”
Whittaker added: “Our priority now is to support the colleagues affected, and to continue serving customers and communities across the rest of our estate.”
Multiple sources indicate that Betfred is looking to enter the AGC space, which would make it the only retail betting shop operator to straddle both verticals simultaneously.
The move could ultimately include converting some existing betting shops into AGCs, though no concrete decisions have been confirmed regarding any specific locations.
Betfred is understood to have acquired a small operation in the AGC space, with up to seven land-based locations, primarily to secure the relevant licences needed to operate in the sector.
One retail betting source welcomed the potential move, telling reporters: “Good on them. If it keeps shops open and it keeps jobs, good on them.”
The AGC sector itself is facing serious financial pressure, with thinktank proposals to double Machine Game Duty to 40% under a so-called “polluter pays” principle posing a major threat.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously criticised AGCs while serving as Mayor of Manchester, and the industry is reportedly being targeted to help subsidise lower business rates for pubs and live music venues.
This would not be the first time a retail-focused betting operator has attempted to establish a presence in the slot arcade business.
Ladbrokes Coral briefly experimented with AGCs prior to its acquisition by Entain, operating across three now-defunct shops in Birmingham before abandoning the project.
Sources described that earlier venture as one that “didn’t pan out,” and it was quietly scrapped without any significant expansion taking place.
