The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has called for the Welsh Government to protect jobs in the gambling industry by reconsidering the rate relief for such companies and possibly include businesses such as casinos, high-street betting outlets and bingo halls. According to the gambling industry’s trade body, such a step would help them to offset the negative impact that the coronavirus lockdown has had on them.
Michael Dugher, the chief executive officer of the Betting and Gaming Council, has reached the Welsh finance minister Rebecca Evans in a letter and has warned her that over 2,000 jobs in the country are already at stake unless the authorities take urgent action.
In April, the UK Government revealed that its Business Rates Retail Discount is to be expanded to also cover businesses that operate in the country’s gambling sector so that casino facilities, bingo halls and high-street betting outlets are included in the measure. Under the special business rates retail discount of the Government, brick-and-mortar gambling businesses will also be eligible to get 100% business rates relief due to the forced shutdown of their operations as part of the coronavirus lockdown.
Unfortunately for gambling businesses, the Welsh Government has stipulated that the new version of the policy does not apply to betting outlets.
To date, there are four casinos and over 300 betting shops on the territory of Wales. All of them are facing financial difficulties because of the closures, just like the leisure, hospitality and entertainment industries that have already received help from the Government.
Trade Body Chief Says Inclusion in the Business Rates Relief Scheme Would Be Acknowledgement for the Gambling Sector
The regulated gambling industry in the UK contributes £3.2 billion on an annual basis to the Treasury. The sector contributes another £350 million to horse racing, as well as an amount between £120 and £200 million to the country’s tourism sector.
According to the CEO of the BGC, without the Government’s held with the business rates relief that has already been granted to other retail sectors in Wales, including to other parts of the leisure, entertainment and hospitality sectors, brick-and-mortar gambling businesses are put at stake. Mr Dugher claims there was a real danger for casinos and betting shops in Wales to permanently stop operation, which would lead to more than 2,000 job losses in the region.
The trade body chief said that the retail gambling industry in Wales is at risk of suffering a significant blow from which it may never recover unless it gets some help from the local Government. According to Mr Dugher, it was a good thing that the UK Government announced a decision to extend its business rates relief scheme to cover retail gambling businesses, as well, because the decision came as an acknowledgement of these businesses’ contribution to the country’s economy.
- Author
Olivia Cole
