Around 4,500 jobs are at risk at bookmaker William Hill after it announced plans to axe 700 betting shops across the UK.
The group warned a "large number of redundancies" are expected and it has begun consultation meetings with the 4,500 affected staff.
Shop closures are due to start by the end of the year.
There are more than a dozen William Hill shops across North Wales, with outlets in Wrexham, Mold, Connah's Quay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon, Bangor, Holyhead, Llangefni and Pwllheli.
William Hill blamed the closures on the Government's decision to slash the maximum stake on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOTBs) to £2 in April, which has hammered bookmakers' sales.
On its store closure plans, the group said: "This follows the Government's decision to reduce the maximum stake on B2 gaming products to £2 on 1 April 2019.
"Since then the company has seen a significant fall in gaming machine revenues, in line with the guidance given when the Government's decision was announced in May 2018."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel