EXCLUSIVE: UK Casinos Reopening Plan?

Land based casinos in the UK have been closed since the 23^rd March when the UK government ordered all non-essential businesses to close, this included all casinos. The closure has effected at total of some 100,000+ workers which includes betting shop staff.

The majority of those staff being furloughed by companies taking advantage of the government’s 80% pay scheme, without which there certainly would have been thousands upon thousands of unemployed workers within the land based gambling industry here in the UK.

However with the recent relaxation of the strict lockdown measures many industries are now looking at possibilities to open when it is safe to do so. The most difficult of all is with hospitality and leisure where mass gatherings in closed spaces is the norm.

It is expected that come June many retail outlets will be allowed to re-open, with of course social distancing measures in place, it is even expected that tourism will kick start sometime in early July in some manner, should the current virus numbers continue to reduce.

But hospitality and leisure will certainly be the last to be allowed to open and that includes casinos and betting offices, however in Ireland betting shops are expected to open by the end of June. Recently the pub industry have laid out a road plan for opening their venues with a set of measures to ensure customers and staff are safe.

Europe is ahead of the UK in terms of casino reopening, with Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic starting to get back to business in some form or another including social distancing measures. According to communication from the Chairman of the European Casino Association (ECA) Per Jaldung to the iGaming Post other casinos in Europe are preparing to open also.

So what about the UK Casinos, what plans have they got to re-open when the government allows it?

The iGaming Post contacted all the major casino operators in the UK including the trade body representing them the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) for comments on how this will work.

The Rank Group who operate Grosvenor Casinos, Aspers and Caesars Entertainment EMEA all referred us to the BGC, Genting UK did not respond to our request at the time of writing this article.

Our initial response from the BGC did not contain any information on whether the UK casino industry were in discussions with each other or the government on plans to reopen when allowed to do so.

However we have received information from two sources within the casino business who told us in confidence that there are talks ongoing with the UK Government regarding a phased approach which will undoubtedly have to run at lower capacity when opening and is certain that consumer demand will be lower for some months, if not years to come.

We were told also that talks around how casinos manage operationally against the backdrop of social distancing and hygiene measures – such as cashless transactions being a thing of the past.

All industries have workers worried about their future and how they will come out of this terrible epidemic and the casino industry is one of the most severely affected, what workers want to know is what their industry is planning.

The iGaming Post also received a separate piece of information from a source within the casino industry on plans on how to reopen when allowed, sadly this has not been confirmed by any casino operator or the BGC but believe it to be an accurate example of how things in the casino industry will be like once reopening is allowed:

Entering Casino Venues

• Entry to Casinos will be made one at a time and queue markers will be used to maintain the 2m social distancing requirement.
• Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser prior to entry.
• Face coverings / masks / shields will be available should customers request them.
• Signage will clearly promote social distancing measures throughout casinos.
• Individual venues will consider the installation of thermal screening devices on entry.

Maintaining Social Distancing

• Social Distancing will be maintained throughout premises in-line with the Government’s Covid-19 Secure Guidelines.
• Each casino will adhere to a capacity limit, the calculation of which will ensure that social distancing is maintained at all points in the customer journey in the casino.
• Staff will ensure that capacity limits will be maintained in specific zones (such as smoking areas, lifts, toilets).
• Restaurant / Bar areas will be reconfigured to allow for social distancing. Table service will be utilised.

Maintaining Safety in Gaming Areas  

• Customers will be required to use hand sanitisers before joining and when leaving a gaming table.
• Table capacity limits of a maximum of three players per table will be enforced.
• Gaming floor layouts should be reviewed to allow for appropriate social distancing between tables and customers. When required to maintain social distancing, gaming tables will be closed or movable plexiglass screens will be deployed.
• All our table games will be operated safely, in line with the Covid-19 Secure Guidelines.
• Slot and Electronic Gaming Machine positions will be reviewed to maintain social distancing between customers. In zones where this is not possible, machines will be closed, or plexiglass screens will be deployed.
• Gaming machines will be cleaned after each session. Voucher redemption terminals and ATMs will be sanitised at least once per hour.

Workers Role in Promoting Covid-19 Secure Guidelines

• All casino workers will be trained to remind our customers of social distancing guidance.
• All customer-facing staff will be required to wear face coverings / masks / shields.
• All staff will follow Government guidance on the use of face coverings https://www.gov.uk/
• Hand sanitiser stations will be available throughout the casino premises, including back of house areas.
• In line with HSE / PHE guidance, all staff will have their roles risk-assessed so that teams are guided to make the necessary adjustments to their role (for instance, guidance on hygiene and social distancing).
• Shift times and working hours to be reviewed to stagger start and finish times. Wherever possible, shift patterns will be changed to match staff with the same teams, reducing the number of staff that come into contact with each other wherever possible.
• Seating in staffrooms and canteen areas will be configured to maintain social distancing

Additional Safeguards

• All casino venues will ensure a high compliance with the Government’s published Covid-19 Secure Guidelines
• A high level of sanitation will always be maintained in venues, supported by documented protocols.
• Where practical, casino venues will utilise one-way systems on gaming floors, in bar and restaurant areas.
• Customers will be encouraged to make contactless transactions, wherever possible and allowed by law.

The iGaming Post believes the above to be what the industry are working on towards when a reopening is allowed, our publication calls on the industry to confirm that this is the case and give their workers some understanding of what conditions for the future will be.

It is understood that COVID-19 will be with us for some time, although a recent modelling of the virus by a team at the Singapore University of Technology plotted data from the pandemic to pinpoint the date cases will die out in countries hardest hit by the disease.

They predict a total eradication of Coronavirus in the UK with no new cases – or a second wave – at all from the end of September (full story can be found here).

We are all hopeful that this could be the case and the gaming industry in the UK along with its customers can return to some normality after what has been a terrible time for those affected.