Echoing the recent messages of Betting and Gaming Council CEO Michael Dugher, Thomas is perplexed as to why pubs and other leisure venues have been allowed to reopen – yet not casinos.
Bingo halls, arcades and betting shops were also allowed to reopen on 4 July but the 120 casinos in England remain closed.
The Hippodrome CEO said: “If there is the need for gradual easing, to have casinos as one of the last ones is bizarre.
"Compare us with bingo halls, casinos are not sessional, and people are not going in lumps.
"The customers are also relatively younger in a casino, the average age is 30s, whereas bingo halls are quite a lot older, certainly more in the higher risk groups and just taking those two reasons if there was gradual easing it should be the other way around.
"There is some logic to a gradual easing, but the Government should be taking a more informed decision as to what parts to open first. Opening pubs and restaurants ahead of casinos is curious to say the least."
