Published
Land-BasedCasinoSports BettingIndustry

BGC urges UK Government to do more to protect retail gambling industry

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chairman, Brigid Simmonds OBE, has urged the UK Government to do more to support high-street bookmakers and casinos which have been permitted to reopen following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BGC

Casinos were permitted to reopen in England from 15 August - a decision welcomed by the BGC as “belated good news.” Scottish and Welsh casinos were permitted to reopen from 24 August and 29 August, respectively.

Despite this, Simmonds has warned that high-street gambling will only survive with the assistance of the Government.

She said: “I’m glad to say that betting shops and casinos across the UK have now opened their doors again, but the latest footfall data shows that visitors to our main shopping thoroughfares are still less than a quarter of pre-pandemic levels.

“With the UK economy officially in recession, it is absolutely vital that our politicians leave no stone unturned in their attempts to save the high street, because they are vital community hubs as well as major contributors to the Treasury.”

Simmonds has urged the Communities and Local Government Select Commitee, which has been conducting an inquiry into the support of UK high streets, to be “hard hitting and courageous” in its recommendations.


Casino News Sponsor
Premium+ Connections
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Consultancy
Executive Profiles
Soft2Bet
Scientific Games
Digitain Malta
Follow Us

Facing Facts: Q3 2024 analysis

Gambling Insider takes a look at the Q3 results of operators...

Taking stock: The final count of 2024

Gambling Insider tracks operator and supplier prices of some...

CEO Special: Flutter CEO Peter Jackson – Playing to win

As the biggest publicly traded operator in gambling meets th...

CEO Special: Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter – High flier

Petra de Ruiter, Holland Casino CEO, speaks to Gambling Insi...

A welcome from your host

A message from the Founder of the Global Gaming Awards and G...

From the event manager

A message from the Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards...

From the Awards adjudicator

KPMG in the Crown Dependencies is the official voting adjudi...

The process

The Global Gaming Awards have deservingly earned the reputat...