UK casinos propose alcohol ban to avoid further closures

By banning alcohol sales, casinos hope to not be among the hospitality venues on the new businesses lockdown closure list

UK casinos are fearing closure with the latest round of COVID restrictions being introduced by the Government next week.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce a new three-tier system of local lockdowns which could see hospitality businesses ordered to close for weeks in an attempt to bring down infection rates.

Casinos in the UK have proposed the ban of alcohol in order to avoid the ‘catastrophic’ closure which could prompt job losses.

Michael Dugher, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, has kept in touch with each MP asking them to permit gambling clubs to remain open. Casinos employ 14,000 individuals and have raised £1.3bn for the Treasury in the last three years. The closure of casinos can heavily impact the economy.

Mr. Dugher said: “Casinos have already proved, thanks to their world class track and trace systems, the use of Perspex screens, hand sanitisers and strict social distancing rules, that they are COVID-secure according to Public Health England.

“There are relatively few casinos, we know that their impact on COVID is negligible and they have in fact operated perfectly safely since re-opening in August. There are no public health grounds to order their closure now.

“Ministers need to understand that casinos are not pseudo-nightclubs or places where young people go to drink. Nevertheless, they are willing to reduce their risk levels even further by refusing to serve alcohol, which the Government seems to think is another factor in the spread of the virus.

“In light of all of this, I would urge ministers to be reasonable and allow casinos to remain safely open and continue to play their part in raising desperately-needed tax revenues for the Treasury, whilst also stopping the spread of the coronavirus.”

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