The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has shown its support for the ‘science-led approach’ taken by the Welsh government, which has allowed betting shops and casinos to reopen their doors following the country’s two week ‘fire break’ lockdown. As of yesterday, 360 betting shops and four casinos in Wales were given the green light to reopen their doors, with a …
Read More »
Bookmakers have agreed to offer a much-needed cash boost for horseracing during the second coronavirus lockdown, after confirming that they will pay additional fees on existing streaming and data deals until 2 December. The extra revenue from online operators will help racecourses to make up for some of the funding shortfall caused by the widespread closure of betting shops in …
Read More »
Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, and UK Gambling Commission Chief Executive, Neil McArthur, have committed to raising awareness of responsible gambling by backing this year’s Safer Gambling Week. Taking place from 19 -25 November, Safer Gambling Week 2020 is led by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), The Bingo Association (BA) and the British Amusement Catering …
Read More »
As the second lockdown in England gets underway, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has reaffirmed its commitment to a 10-point pledge aimed at protecting both staff and customers. The pledge, which was first outlined in March during the first UK-wide lockdown, outlines the standards expected of BGC members. It followed concerns that the closure of betting shops and casinos …
Read More »
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) is seeking guarantees from the government that UK betting shops and gambling venues will be allowed to reopen without interruption once the latest England-wide COVID-19 lockdown ends on the anticipated date of 2 December. The BGC said that the government must take a ‘science-led approach’ to reopen high street venues, avoiding the decisions which …
Read More »
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been warned by UK casino leaders that “hundreds of Scottish jobs’” have been placed at risk following the SNP’s enforcement that casino venues should be temporarily shut. New Scottish Government COVID-19 emergency measures enforced that any region placed under ‘Level 2’ requires local casinos to close entirely. Bosses have called on the Scottish First …
Read More »
The closure of casinos across Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire has been branded as a ‘senseless’ move by Jonathon Swaine, managing director of Rank Group, after the regions entered England’s new tier three restrictions. The new measures will mean that a number of Rank’s Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo venues will be forced to close their doors, having only recently …
Read More »
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has urged the Business Secretary Alok Sharma to block the ‘unfair and unnecessary’ closure of betting shops and casinos across the country, citing concerns over potential mass job losses. Across Lancashire and Liverpool, and soon to include Wales and potentially Greater Manchester, betting shops have been included in the list of businesses having to …
Read More »
Lancashire is the latest region to be moved into Tier 3 of England’s new lockdown system, which will see approximately 100 betting shops across the county forced to close their doors from Saturday. Downing Street made the decision to move the entire region including the cities of Lancaster and Preston – into the ‘very high’ alert tier, which has been …
Read More »
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has expressed its disappointment over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decisions to close betting shops, casinos and adult gaming centres across Merseyside. During an address to the nation last night, Johnson outlined a new nationwide three tier system to combat the rising spread of COVID-19, which is expected to come into force from tomorrow. Responding …
Read More »
SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry