UK operators face further closures as new national lockdown comes into force
Retail, casino and bingo venues forced to shut as Covid cases spiral while elite sport is cleared to continue
Retail operators are braced for another tumultuous financial period following the announcement of a third national lockdown in England by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The new lockdown measures will see the shuttering of all non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment facilities, as well as schools, as the government aims to tackle the rampant spread of a new coronavirus strain that is far more transmissible.
As of 4 January, the UK had recorded more than 50,000 daily cases of coronavirus for seven days in a row.
Under these “non-essential” definitions, betting shops, bingo halls and casinos will all be forced to close until at least the middle of February, by which time Johnson hopes to have made significant strides with the rollout of the government’s vaccination programme.
The closure of the land-based sector deals another crushing blow for the industry which has already suffered greatly since the initial national lockdown in March of last year.
However, in a major departure from last year, the government has confirmed that elite sport can continue, which will provide a welcome boost to sports betting operators and their market providers.
Premier League football and professional horseracing will be allowed to continue to run under strict Covid-secure protocols, despite the fact four Premier League games have been postponed this season due to coronavirus cases within clubs.
David Bottomley, CEO of English Football League (EFL) club Rochdale, said on Monday that fixture postponements would be “inevitable” in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football.
In a statement, the British Horseracing Authority confirmed that all events will continue to run under Covid-19 rules that were in place during the government’s previous tiered system.
The statement read: “Following this evening’s broadcast, we can confirm racing will continue behind closed doors during the upcoming national lockdown.
“Attendance will be limited to those essential to the staging of fixtures and strict adherence to British racing’s Covid-19 protocols will continue to be required for all who attend,” the statement concluded.
Reacting to the news of a new lockdown, Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Michael Dugher said the trade body’s members had reaffirmed their commitment to a 10-point standards planlaunched in March last year.
Dugher said: “Members did not hesitate to sign up to our 10-pledge action plan in March and I am delighted that they have done so again as we regrettably go back into some form of lockdown.
“Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of our staff and customers, and these pledges make very clear the standards expected of our members in the coming weeks,” he added.
The Prime Minister is due to give a press conference at 5pm today on the new Covid-19 restrictions.