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The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) released a statement today regarding the relaxation of restrictions in the UK for casinos and betting shops, Monday the 17th May marks the day casinos in England can reopen with strict COVID-19 restrictions still in place. Although the BGC announce it as a celebration the fact that International travel in and out of the UK is largely restricted means high-end clubs like Les Ambassadeurs in Mayfair will remain closed for sometime to come.<\/p>\n
Below is the full release from the BGC:<\/p>\n
In the latest relaxation of the Covid lockdown, more than 100 casinos across England, Scotland and Wales are finally opening their doors today (MON) for the first time this year.<\/p>\n
Returning customers will have to comply with the anti-Covid measures the venues have put in place, such as making use of hand sanitisers, wearing face masks and following social distancing rules.<\/p>\n
In Scotland, rules imposed by the Scottish Government mean casinos will close at 10.30pm and are not allowed to sell alcohol. However, casinos in Glasgow will remain closed after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the city was remaining under Level 3 restrictions.<\/p>\n
Britain\u2019s casinos directly employ 11,600 people and, in the year before the pandemic, contributed \u00a3500 million to the Treasury in tax.<\/p>\n
In addition, casinos in London also contribute \u00a3120m to the capital\u2019s tourism sector.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, anti-Covid restrictions imposed on betting shops in England when they re-opened last month \u2013 such as a ban on showing live sport on TV – are also being lifted from today.<\/p>\n
Customers in Scottish betting shops \u2013 apart from those in Glasgow and Moray, which is also remaining in Level 3 – will be allowed access to gaming machines for the first time since they re-opened on April 26.<\/p>\n
According to a report by Ernst and Young commissioned by the BGC, betting shops across the UK support 46,000 jobs and pay nearly \u00a31bn a year in tax to the Treasury.<\/p>\n
They also help to plough \u00a3350m into horseracing through media rights and the betting levy.<\/p>\n
Overall, the regulated betting and gaming industry contributes \u00a37.7bn to the economy in gross value added.<\/p>\n
BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said the moves were \u201ca fantastic boost\u201d for casino and betting shop customers, staff and the UK economy.<\/p>\n
Michael Dugher said: \u201cIt\u2019s great news that most of the UK\u2019s casinos are finally able to re-open \u2013 and is a testament to the hard work that staff have put in making them Covid-secure.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well as providing excellent entertainment for their customers, casinos are a major contributor to the UK economy, something which will be vital in the months ahead as the Government tries to repair the damage done to the nation\u2019s finances by Covid-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am also delighted that the restrictions imposed on betting shops are being lifted. Their safe re-opening in April has been a huge success and this is further reward for the efforts they have made to ensure their premises are Covid-secure.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) released a statement today regarding the relaxation of restrictions in the UK for casinos and betting shops, Monday the 17th May marks the day casinos in England can reopen with strict COVID-19 restrictions still in place. Although the BGC announce it as a celebration the fact that International travel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":24634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-gaming"],"yoast_head":"\n