Bookies Open For Busines In Scotland But No Live Racing

No Chairs and no live racing but bookmakers in Scotland can re-open from today, that is the ridiculous state of affairs for bookies in Scotland after they were forced to close in March. Along with this no gaming machines are to be allowed and must be switch off to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus.

There are 900 betting shops in Scotland employing some 4,500 people and those jobs are at risk if Ministers do not reconsider the restrictions placed on betting shops.

However Kate Forbes, the Scottish Finance Secretary said, this is “to avoid clusters of people gathering to watch live sport”. Betting shops should only be used for placing bets and that is all.

John Heaton, chairman of Scotbet, Scotland’s largest independent bookmaker with 30 betting shops employing 100 people, said: “It seems to me that this policy has been devised by someone who has never been in a betting shop. Dozens of customers hanging around watching the TV is a thing of the past. People come in, watch a race a leave again.

 “The whole thing is just crazy, and a real slap in the face for an industry which has done its bit for the national effort to tackle Covid-19. I hope that, even at this late stage, the Scottish Government will think again.”

The full article on the betting shops restrictions in Scotland can be seen here on the BGC website