Gauselmann CEO Criticises UK Reopening Roadmap

Paul Gauselmann, owner and CEO of Gauselmann Group, has written a personal letter to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, communicating his disappointment over the government’s decision not to include adult gaming centres in the non-essential business list allowed to reopen starting April 12.

The letter, which was also sent to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng, marks the first time Gauselmann has written to a head of government on a political issue in over 60 years of corporate leadership.

Gauselmann Group currently runs the Casino franchise of adult gaming centres via its Merkur division, with 174 locations throughout the UK. Paul Gauselmann demanded Johnson review the decision. The operator’s facilities have “attract comparably small numbers of customers who do not stay for long”, referring to the non-essential retail properties set to open next month.

“For this reason, we cannot understand the decision which permits betting shops to open even though they operate the same gaming machines,” he declared.

According to the businessman, this decision puts the company at a major market disadvantage and he anticipates a long-term erosion of Gauselmann’s customer base as a result. Any further delay in reopening, according to him, could jeopardize any of the company’s future investments.