Bookies Report Smooth Start Back Prior To Busy Week

Bookmakers in England opened their doors for the first time in three month Monday 14^th June and initial reports say that both customers and staff adapted really well to the new safety measures.

Some of the measures to help with COVID-19 safety measures included; social distancing, sneeze screens and strict limitations on customer numbers in the betting shop at one time along with disposable stylus pens to be able to place bets.

Simon Clare, Ladbrokes Coral PR director said of the first day back for their betting shops, “We have worked really hard to get all the Ladbrokes Coral shops in England and southern Ireland open today, all fitted out with all the necessary safety measures and protective equipment,” he went on to say, “The initial feedback from our shop colleagues is that the new procedures and measures are working well in practice. The disposable stylus pens we’ve provided to use on the machine screens have been really well received – as have the protective barriers between the machines.

“We are seeing plenty of our regular customers returning, and they are playing their part too, showing patience queuing for the counter to put their bets on, adhering to the social distancing measures and, when necessary, queuing outside the shop.

“I’d like to thank our shop colleagues who have had to adapt to the new working environment with all the safety measures, and yet have also carried on exactly where they left off, looking after their customers.”

GVC operate some 3,000 betting shops under the Ladbrokes and Coral brands and with Royal Ascot starting on Tuesday and the resumption of football back on Wednesday, Clare finished by saying, “Today has been all about getting used to the new measures and processes in preparation for some busy days ahead, with Royal Ascot starting and then Premier League football back from Wednesday.

“We are looking forward to welcoming more of our regular customers back in our shops over the next few days, and would just ask them to play their part and adhere to the social-distancing guidelines and keep themselves and our colleagues safe.”