England began a second lockdown on 5 November, expected to last until 2 December, following a rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

As a result, the hospitality sector, including betting shops and casinos, will be shut for the duration of the lockdown, which is expected to see a further rise in online gambling, a trend experienced during lockdown one in March.

That has prompted Gambling Commission CEO Neil McArthur to remind operators of the commission’s expectations, including making sure they act responsibly when it comes to customer affordability checks, which involves increased social interactions and acting quickly if customers show signs they are at risk of harm.

McArthur also warned operators that marketing must be conducted responsibly and compliance with license conditions and codes of practice has to be adhered to.

He said: “It is vital that all operators play their part in keeping their customers safe and we will be continuing to conduct our compliance assessments during this month-long lockdown.”

In response, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) re-affirmed its 10-pledge COVID-19 action plan, which is aimed to protect staff and customers during lockdown, first published in March.

The pledges include an increase in safer gambling messages from operators, the active promotion of deposit limits and welfare checks for staff, at a time concerns are rife of a potential rise in online problem gambling.

BGC CEO Michael Dugher said: “Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of our staff and customers, and these pledges make very clear the standards expected of our members in the coming weeks.”