Roadmap out of lockdown: BCG welcomes casinos

reopening in the UK

With May 17 just around the corner, casinos and bingo halls in the UK are set to open up as a result of Step 3 of the 2021 COVID-19 Response Plan. Following the positive signals from the first 2 steps of the reopening, the UK decision makers have decided to continue with the 3rd phase of the plan which involves reopening:

Indoor hospitality venues such as restaurants , pubs, bars, social clubs or cafes.
Indoor sports and leisure venues. Moreover organized sport and group exercise classes are not subject to group restrictions and can be performed in any number.
Visitor attractions such as: museums, galleries, skating rinks, water parks, zoos, botanical gardens, stately or historic homes, castles or other heritage sites, etc.
Performance arts venues like cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
Indoor entertainment: amusement arcades, bowling alleys, snooker and pool halls, casinos and bingo halls.

Chief Executive Michael Dugher of the Betting and Gaming Council, a large British group representing the industry, called the move a “fantastic boost” for casino and betting shop customers. “As 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’s finances by Covid-19.” he continued.

It’s worth noting that some of the additional restrictions will also be lifted from betting shops, including the one on showing like sport events on TV screens inside the shops. However the social distancing and mask mandates are still in full effect, as well as the restriction on the number of people who are allowed on the premises.

On the other hand, casinos in Scotland are still not out of the woods yet. Restrictions still abound in the northern regions of the British Isles. In addition to the social distancing and sanitation requirements everyone needs to abide by, they also have to close at 22.30 every day and are not allowed to serve any alcohol. On top of this casinos within Glasgow will remain closed as the city is still under Level 3 restrictions.

This change comes as a relief for a lot of players, since they now can get back to enjoying the games they’re used to. Back when the COVID lockdowns started, a lot of the casino players had to adapt to the new reality and switch over to online casinos for a while until the pandemic passed. Thanks to that, the online casino sector saw a large increase in activity; some operators saw a boost as high as 20% in the number of slot game players between March 2020 and March 2021.