BlackRock has raised its total exposure to Entain above the 5% disclosure threshold, restoring its position as one of the gambling group’s major institutional investors.
A regulatory filing published on 4 August showed that the US asset manager controlled 5.01% of Entain’s voting rights as of 31 July. Its previous reported position had been below 5%.
The holding represents 32,264,352 voting rights. Of that total, 26,038,814 voting rights, equivalent to 4.06% of Entain, were attached to shares. A further 0.95% was held through financial instruments.
BlackRock’s financial-instrument exposure included 191,404 voting rights through American Depositary Receipts and 1,237,531 through securities-lending arrangements. Cash-settled contracts for difference accounted for another 4,796,603 voting rights, or 0.74% of the company.
Entain was notified of the threshold crossing on 3 August. The operator’s shareholder register now lists BlackRock alongside other major investors, including Capital Group, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and Société Générale. Capital Group held the largest disclosed position at 9.97%, based on Entain’s latest shareholder information.
The renewed BlackRock position comes after its exposure to Entain fell below 5% in an earlier notification. The latest filing does not explain the investment strategy behind the change and should not be interpreted as confirmation that BlackRock purchased an additional 0.95% of Entain’s ordinary shares, as most of that portion is linked to derivatives and other financial instruments.
The development arrives during a challenging period for UK gambling operators. Remote Gaming Duty increased from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026, significantly raising the tax burden on online casino revenue generated from British customers.
Entain has nevertheless maintained confidence in its longer-term cash-generation plans. In its first-quarter update, the company said it remained comfortable with market expectations for 2026 and continued to target at least £500 million in annual adjusted cash flow by 2028.
Its US joint venture BetMGM also reported profitable growth during the second quarter. Revenue rose 3% year-on-year to $711 million, while adjusted EBITDA reached $74 million. However, BetMGM said full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA were likely to finish toward the lower end of its existing guidance ranges.
Entain operates a portfolio of sports betting and gaming brands that includes Ladbrokes, Coral, bwin and Eurobet. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker ENT and remains a constituent of the FTSE 100.