Out of service since mid-March, Scotland’s betting shops reopened on 29 June, however, Scottish National Party ministers applied last-minute requirements, including removing chairs, switching off machines and prohibiting live racing broadcasting.
According to the BGC, over-the-counter takings from punters plummeted as a result of these restrictions, with operators in Scotland reporting a 95% drop in turnover compared to before lockdown. Calling for direct action by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, BGC CEO Michael Dugher warned that the restrictions proposed by the Scottish government were unnecessary and expected to have a devastating impact on sports betting operators in the country.
“Sturgeon was right to say she wanted every business trading viably, but the government is single-handedly wrecking the viability of hundreds of betting shops in Scotland. We urge Sturgeon to intervene before it’s too late,” said Dugher.
Dugher also pointed out the systems in place in betting shops in England as a clear indicator that the methods in Scotland were too strict, and that they were based on a lack of understanding of customer behaviour.
“Making bookies open without any chairs or live racing shows a complete misunderstanding of how they operate,” he added.
In response to the BGC, a Scottish government spokeswoman said: “We don’t want any businesses to remain closed, or open with restrictions in place, for a day longer than is necessary but public health is paramount. Our guidance, which gives betting shops the option to reopen partially for the purpose of placing bets only, is aimed at avoiding clusters of people gathering to watch live sport, with gambling machines switched off to avoid spread through surface transmission.”
