UK Casinos to Remain Closed Until August 15

Casinos in the UK are to remain closed until at least August 15 after the government postponed the further easing of lockdown measures put in place due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, the government said that it would allow more indoor venues including casinos, cinemas and bowling alleys to reopen from August 1 as part of its gradual easing of lockdown in the UK.

Casinos have been closed since 20 March and remained shuttered despite other land-based gambling outlets such as betting shops (15 June) and bingo halls (4 July) being allowed to welcome back customers.

However, the government has now delayed the planned relaxation of measures on larger indoor venues, with these now set to remain shut for at least another two weeks.

“We simply cannot take the risk; we will continue to study the data carefully and move forward with our intention to open up as soon as we can,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, hit out at the decision, saying there is “no evidence” to show that casinos are higher risk venues. He also blasted the decision to enforce the ongoing closures nationwide.

“What happened to the government’s local lockdown strategy,” Dugher said in a Twitter post. “Why should a casino business remain closed in Bristol in the south west, where Covid-19 is low, because there’s a spike in greater Manchester? Big threat to jobs.”