Confusion forces bookmakers to re-close betting shops in Ireland
Paddy Power has closed its betting shops in the Republic of Ireland just a day since reopening, after the Irish government confirmed bookmakers are unable to reopen doors until 29 June.
The operator initially reopened in both England and Ireland on 15 June, as per UK government guidelines, which gave the go-ahead for all shops to resume operations from that date in England.
The confusion in Ireland stems from its Government allowing high street shops to reopen under social distancing measures, on 8 June, which the Irish Bookmakers Association confirmed last week would apply to bookmakers.
However, on Monday, the Irish Government clarified bookmakers should not open until 29 June, as part of phase three of the coronavirus lockdown relaxation measures, which will see the reopening of hotels, restaurants and bars.
In a statement, Paddy Power said: “On Monday, we became aware of an Irish Government specification that bookies should open on June 29th. Hence, we took the decision to close our Irish shops until we have the green light to go ahead.
“For the time being, Paddy’s shops in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain closed but we will keep you updated as the situation develops. All open shops are subject to continual review.”
It’s also been reported that GVC’s Ladbrokes outlets in Ireland were also closed on Tuesday, 24 hours after reopening.
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