Entain has reported a 13% year-on-year increase in online net gaming revenue across the UK and Ireland during the first half of its 2026 financial year.
The strong UK and Ireland performance came despite Remote Gaming Duty rising sharply from 21% to 40% in April, representing a significant new cost burden for the business.
Entain said its NGR growth had more than offset the impact of the higher tax rate, demonstrating the underlying strength of its domestic online operations.
For the six months ending June 2026, reported group NGR for the whole Entain business reached £2.55bn, representing a 7% year-on-year increase across the organisation.
Underlying EBITDA slipped 2% to £479.3m during the period, though the group’s net loss narrowed considerably from £85.8m to £11.4m compared with the same period last year.
UK and Ireland online gaming NGR climbed 13% on a constant-currency basis, while sports NGR increased 11%, with Entain attributing gains to continued momentum and volume growth.
The wider group online performance saw NGR increase 9% on a reported basis, with customer engagement during the World Cup proving a particularly notable driver of activity.
Entain said first-time depositors during the World Cup tournament reached twice the level recorded during the 2022 edition, underlining the event’s commercial significance for the business.
“I am pleased with Entain’s start to 2026 with strong momentum and volume growth continuing as well as strong player engagement across the group throughout the World Cup tournament,” said CEO Stella David.
“This performance reflects our strengthening operations and focused execution which reinforces the resilience of our globally scaled business and its ability to consistently deliver high-quality growth,” David added.
A major strategic development in the half saw Entain agree to sell a 20% stake in its Central and Eastern European joint venture to existing partner EMMA Capital, marking the first step in a phased exit from the region.
The company received approximately €425m from the transaction, comprising €395m payable on completion and a further performance-linked payment expected in early 2027.
“We have continued to take decisive strategic actions to deliver shareholder value, including our phased exit of Entain CEE,” David said, describing Entain as “a sharper, fitter, and better connected business.”
Proceeds from the CEE disposal are earmarked to support capital allocation priorities, including reducing leverage and creating scope for further returns to shareholders going forward.
Total UK and Ireland NGR for the half was 8% higher on a reported basis at £1.18bn, driven by online growth, while retail NGR rose a more modest 2% to £536.4m.
Entain’s International business delivered NGR of £1.37bn, up 7% year-on-year, with particularly strong performances recorded in Australia, Canada, Georgia, New Zealand, and Spain.
Discontinued CEE operations posted NGR 6% higher at £268.9m, though retail revenue in the region dropped 19% to £34.4m amid declines across both gaming and sports.
Looking ahead, Entain reiterated its full-year guidance, with FY26 online NGR expected to grow between 5% and 7% on a constant-currency basis.
Group underlying EBITDA is forecast to land at the midpoint of the £910m to £960m guidance range, with the initial 20% CEE divestment set to complete in early Q4 2026.
“I am confident our disciplined focus on growth and optimisation will deliver strong future cash-generation, and that Entain remains well positioned to be a long-term industry winner,” David said.
