Immigration rules to harm UK casinos, warns Betting and Gaming Council
UK Casinos could suffer from the new immigration points system to be introduced next year, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
The BGC is concerned the new points system will cause a negative impact on casinos, as well as tourism and the night-time economy, hindering the ability for casinos to hire skilled croupiers.
The system, to be implemented on 1 January 2021 when the UK will exit the European Union after the end of the transition period, will require immigrants to fulfil certain criteria to obtain a working visa.
They will need to have 70 points to be eligible for a visa and have a job offer, as well as a certain set skill set with a minimum salary of £25,600 ($32,700), to qualify.
However, the BGC has warned croupiers will not qualify as having the specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions needed and that 70% of croupiers in the UK are currently from overseas.
They also stated casinos employ more than 14,000 people and contribute at least £300m in tax revenue per year.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher said: “The Government has announced exemptions for certain workers and skills and we urge the Government to work with the casino and wider hospitality industry to ensure we can continue to thrive.
“To remain competitive, our casinos need the best croupiers with great arithmetic agility.
“Using arbitrary skills or salary requirements will damage highly successful parts of the UK economy.”
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
