By 
PM Boris Johnson has announced UK Casinos can reopen their doors once again on August 1st. As lockdown restrictions ease, its welcome relief for the casino industry after closing its doors for over three months due to Coronavirus.
Some Kind Of Normality
The UK PM said lifting of more restrictions is the government’s plan to further return England back to ‘some kind of normality by Christmas’. Casinos were one of the last to get the green light in the leisure industry, despite numerous calls from the betting and gaming council (BGC) stating on multiple occasions all casinos are safe to reopen with all safety measures in place. Pubs, restaurants, betting shops and bingo halls have all reopened, but casinos have not.The BGC have been lobbying the government around the reopening of casinos since June when the PM held a press conference stating he was allowing other businesses in the leisure industry to reopen on the 4th July, but still not casinos.
Fears For The Casino Industry
Head of the BGC Michael Dugher has been vocal on the lack of clarity from the government regarding the reopening of casinos and called the decision, “inconsistent and nonsensical”. In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, he feared severe damage maybe be caused to the casino industry as a direct result of the closures.Before the announcement of the reopening of UK casinos on August 1st, casino company Genting announced 1,642 job cuts at it’s clubs and hotels due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.The BGC thanked the government in a statement on its website “ on behalf of 12,000 people in England who work in casinos.” He also urged Scottish and Welsh government’s follow the example of the UK.