The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the furlough scheme until September 2021, extend business rates relief, and introduce grants for struggling high street businesses and hospitality.

The BGC said the lifeline will support the 44,000 people working in retail betting shops and land-based casinos throughout the UK, adding that many retail, hospitality and leisure businesses would have struggled without the additional long-term Government support.

The standards body added that due to the extension of furlough, businesses will be able to retain control over their biggest cost, which is staffing, while the extension of business rates relief will remove major financial pressure on those who have suffered a significant loss of income.

“The extension of the furlough scheme and new grants for businesses are strongly welcomed by the tens of thousands of people who work in high street betting shops and land-based casinos,” said BGC chief executive Michael Dugher. “Without the continued support from the Chancellor, many of these businesses would have struggled to survive.

“We have already seen over 5,000 jobs lost and 375 businesses closed since the start of last year. The decision to extend the business rates relief will be welcomed by many of our member companies who have not been able to open properly for nearly a year now.”