Entain Reportedly Exploring Sale of Central European Business
Posted on: June 22, 2026, 12:58h.
Last updated on: June 22, 2026, 12:58h.
- Entain is looking to defray costs related to U.K. gaming tax increases
- The Central and Eastern European unit is EBITDA-positive
- Speculation suggests Entain could sell its stake in the business to its Czech joint venture partner
Entain Plc (OTC: GMVHY) is reportedly mulling options, including a possible sale, for its Central and Eastern European sportbook business in an effort to raise cash to defray rising costs associated with U.K. wagering taxes.
Citing three unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reports the Coral owner is examining cash-raising possibilities for a unit that’s largely comprised of Croatian and Polish sports wagering assets. Like rivals, Entain is contending with an increasingly onerous tax regime in its home country of the U.K.
In April, the government there nearly doubled the online gaming tax pertaining to slots and table games to 40% from 21% while lifting the sports wagering levy to 25% from 15%.
The increased taxes have been a drag on UK-based gaming companies with shares of some smaller operators hit the hardest. For its part, Entain lost nearly a third of its value since the new tax schemes were unveiled last November.
Options for Entain Central European Biz
Entain hasn’t publicly confirmed it’s shopping the Central and Eastern European business, which is largely made up of Croatian sportsbook SuperSport and Polish sportsbook STS. Those assets were acquired in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The Reuters article suggests one possibility for Entain is to sell its stake in the business to Czech investment firm EMMA Capital, which is the joint venture partner. Entain is a the majority owner, but under the terms of the agreement, both parties have call-and-put options over the asset manager’s interest, meaning Entain could have owned the business outright in the future.
The report doesn’t speculate on other potential buyers, but the Ladbrokes owner could potentially entice several prospective suitors for a simple reason: the Central and Eastern European business is profitable. It generated nearly $243 million in 2025 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).
Prior rounds of speculation pertaining to potential asset sales by Entain stirred speculation that large, well-known private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) and CVC Capital, could be bidders. It remains to be seen if the rumor mill turns in that direction regarding Entain’s Eastern European business.
Consolidation Afoot in U.K. Gaming Space
Higher taxes in the U.K. are crimping some smaller, heavily indebted operators and may be a contributing factor in industry consolidation. For example, Bally’s-controlled Bally’s Intralot (ATHEX: BYLOT) recently swooped in to acquire William Hill owner Evoke (OTC: EIHDF) for $328 million.
Specific to Entain, which owns 50% of BetMGM, that company doesn’t necessarily need to sell itself outright to adequately address higher taxes in its home market, but it has acknowledged the increased levies are likely to boost costs by nearly $230 million. That could be a sign the company is a motivated seller of what it considers non-core assets.
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