Hundreds of Ladbrokes and Coral betting shops in the UK are set to close this year after a surge in online gambling due to the coronavirus pandemic, bosses have warned.
Their parent company, Entain, says revenue from its websites and smartphone apps has been up 50% in the past 12 months — contributing to overall profits of £175million in 2020.
Although high street customers are expected to return once Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, up to 300 shops could close, reports Mirror Online.
Entain's chief financial officer, Rob Wood, said: "We look at around 100 closures per year in the UK off a starting point of 3,000 or so.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we see two or three years of closures come into one this year."
An Entain spokesperson said: "We are committed to maintaining a strong presence on the high street through both the Ladbrokes and Coral brands, and our retail business remains an important part of our future plans.
"We currently have a programme of investment in our sites to create the 'betting shop of the future' and are looking forward very much to welcoming our customers back through our doors as soon as we are allowed to do so."
Betting shops in England will be able to reopen on 12 April at the earliest under Boris Johnson's roadmap for dialling down coronavirus restrictions.
