The gambling and sports betting industry in the UK will once again try to return to normal, with England being set to exit the national lockdown on December 2nd, as revealed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on November 23rd. The latest lockdown, which was imposed as of November 5th and included temporary shutdowns of casino and betting shop venues, will now be lifted in so-called Tier 2 regions.
As the Government announced, what regions will see businesses resume operations and what operations will be allowed will only depend on the number of positive Covid-19 cases, reproduction rate and the capacity of the area’s National Health System (NHS) capacity to deal with the infections.
In any case, it will be course betting outlets that would draw the largest benefits of the lockdown’s end, with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) having called for some relaxation of the measure. Also, the UK Government revealed that it is to make its approach towards reopening for businesses situated at Tier 3 regions more targeted. The businesses in such areas, including sports betting outlets and casino venues, will be kept closed.
The Betting and Gaming Council has praised the Government for its decision to ease the measures and allow some gambling businesses to resume operations. Previously, it has insisted that no scientific data proved that shutdowns were actually efficient and necessary.
Stadiums Will Reopen for Sports Fans at a Limited Capacity
Another major step announced by Prime Minister Johnson is the Government’s decision to allow fans to return to stadiums and attend live events. This is a really big move forward for the country, which the sports sector has been asking the authorities to allow people to get back to local stadiums for months.
Since the first lockdown measures got introduced in March, the UK Government has not permitted any live attendance at sports events – a measure that has taken its toll in terms of profits that could have been generated. Now, stadiums will be able to welcome sports fans back, but will still work with reduced capacity.
Sports venues will be allowed to host up to 50% of their overall capacity but, still, no more than 4,000 people will be allowed in outdoor stadiums in Tier 1 areas. When it comes to Tier 2 areas, only 2,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor stadiums there, or at least until there is a considerable decline in the number of coronavirus cases.
When it comes to indoor venues, they will have to operate at 50% capacity, or 1,000 people, whichever is lower. Prime Minister Johnson revealed that tiers will still be used by the Government to determine which regions may relax the lockdown measures and which should be kept shut until March 2021 at the earliest.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister shared he has been discussing the measures with his colleagues from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Author
Daniel Williams
