Genting UK To close three casinos amid COVID-19 crisis

Genting Casinos are to permanently close three casinos according to GMB representatives; it is believed that Torquay, Bristol and possibly in Margate are all earmarked to keep their doors closed with an unknown amount of job losses.

As all casino operators battle with the financial impact COVID-19 has had on their businesses with the iGaming Post already reporting the Ritz Club Casino in London has closed permanently this is another blow to an industry that is in turmoil.

According to reports locally job cuts will also happen in all Gentings 32 venues nationally.

In all three of the casinos said to be closing workers are represented by the workers union GMB, which it fears is just the start of mass redundancies within the hospitality and leisure sector.

All casino staff have been furloughed since March when the lockdown took affect and although casinos in England have been told they can reopen in early July operators believe it will be a major struggle to attract gamblers and keep their current staffing levels.

Genting has reportedly been consulting with the GMB over the closures and job losses across its estate and workers at all three venues have been informed of the potential closures.

In the letter to employees chief executive Paul Willcock said, “huge financial impact on our business and…significant uncertainty for the foreseeable future”, and added: “I am therefore forced to contemplate some very difficult options to ensure survival.”

A GMB spokesperson said on the redundancies, “As the scheme ends, GMB fears this is just the beginning of widespread job losses across the sector that will hit local communities hard.

“If the Government wants this country to retain a leisure and hospitality industry, we need to see support measures continue, in some form, that we can gradually wean the businesses off as the situation hopefully improves over the next year or so.

“Otherwise there will be very little hospitality and leisure businesses left for the public to go back to.”