High street betting stores in Wales and England have finally opened to gamers after staying shut for over 13 weeks due to the pandemic. (Image Source: Keenan Constance on Unsplash)
According to reports from the United Kingdom, High street betting stores in Wales and England have opened their doors to gamers after keeping them shut for more than 13 weeks due to the nation dealing with tits third wave of the pandemic.
A report coming from the Racing Post has revealed that this move is one of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans to bring the United Kingdom back to normalcy after a year in which more than 127,000 people died due to the Covid-19 pandemic. By the 21st of June, 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping all social distancing rules that are still in place would have been removed. As it stands, sports betting shops are not the only recipients of the gradual lifting of very strict Covid-19 protocols. Pub beer gardens, gyms, and hairdressers have been re-opened.
Unending Controls of Betting Outlets
Although the re-opening of brick-and-mortar betting stores in Wales and England was long-awaited, it appears they still do not have the freedom to operate as they would like to. There are reports that these betting stores are not allowed to show live pictures taken from any sporting event or even offer their clients chairs.
That’s not all. Brick and Mortar betting stores have been directed to adhere to stringent capacity limitations and this put a limit to the length of time a bettor can stay in one shop. With all these restrictions in place, bookmaking centers are not allowed to provide above one pair of electronic betting machines. That’s not all, as it has been stated that betting should not go beyond eight o’clock each evening and there is a limit of individual clients to not more than two visits daily.
The Betting Operators are Optimistic
Although these limits do not seem convenient, Howard Chisholm who serves as the Managing Director for Chisholm Bookmakers Limited, an independent bookmaking company has revealed to the Racing Post that he is getting ready to reopen the 35 betting venues operated by his firm across Northeast England. He did not stop at that. He also made it known that his staff is glad to be returning to work. Also, he has an executive body checking out all his stores to ensure his staff is ready to work.
Chisholm has said that with restrictions in place, betting stores will be different. However, the firm was able to properly handle the third round of boundaries that were put in place just before Christmas. Also, the clients are aware of the things to be done. Only a handful of people visit betting stores and stay there the entire day. Also, just a few people are interested in staying with a machine the entire day. The implication of this is the restrictions will not change the situation in the way lots of people assume.
Much Needed Relief for Many Others
According to reports, Michael Dugher who happens to be the Betting and Gaming Council lobby group’s Chief Executive is glad about the reopening of brick and mortar betting stores as it could be the much-needed boost to British horseracing’s messed up finance as associated payments targeted at the Horserace Betting Levy are to resume.
Michael revealed that betting shop staff and their clients have been away from the betting stores for three months and he is certain they all anticipate returning to business safely because of the anti-coronavirus restrictions already established.
Leave A Comment