A recent announcement that non-essential retail operators in the UK, including high-street betting shops, will be able to apply for direct financial help of up to £6,000 each has been welcomed by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The trade body that represents the local gambling sector has also once again urged the UK Government to extend the business rates relief for one more year.
The announcement of the grant scheme, along with some additional information, has been revealed ahead of the annual budget speech of chancellor Rishi Sunak that is set to take place on March 3rd. At the time when the speech is set to take place, Mr Sunak is expected to unveil a new grant scheme for a total of £5 billion to help high-street operations in England recover from the negative impact of the lengthy coronavirus pandemic closures.
As it became clear, almost 700,000 betting shops, hotels, restaurants, gyms, hair salons and other operations that have been categorised as “non-essential” businesses in England will be able to apply for so-called “restart grants” that are expected to be distributed by local authorities directly to the companies from April 2021. The financial aid is set to come in place of the existing monthly grant system.
So-called non-essential retail businesses will be eligible for direct monetary help of up to £6,000 that would help them start operations again as soon as they are allowed to do so by the Government. Accommodation, hospitality, gym, personal care and leisure businesses across England, which are set to remain shut for a while more, will be given the chance to apply for a financial boost of £18,000 per site.
Land-Based Gambling Sector Has Suffered Major Losses Due to Coronavirus Closures
The trade body that represents the UK gambling sector is waiting to get more information about the abovementioned grants but welcomed the support that the Government promised for the businesses it represents. Yesterday, a spokesman for the Betting and Gaming Council commented on the news, welcoming the grants on the behalf of the BGC, saying the money will help independent betting outlets offset some of the pressure they have been under for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
About a week ago, at the time when Prime Minister Boris Johnson provided some details about the Government’s timetable for easing lockdown measures, bookmakers and racecourses in England got dates for upcoming reopening. As Casino Guardian reported earlier, non-essential retail businesses, including high-street betting shops, have been included in the second phase of the plan. They are set to resume operations on April 12th in case vaccination rates increase and the number of active cases across the country marks a sufficient decline.
Michael Dugher, CEO of the BGC, has addressed Mr Sunak ahead of his budget speech, asking him to consider further support for the high-street betting sector and extend some business rates relief for one more year in order to help local casinos and betting shops recover from the harm they suffered as a result of the lengthy closures they have been subject to. According to Mr Dugher, such a step would help retail gambling companies protect their employees’ jobs and remove the massive financial pressure for these businesses.
Licensed betting shops across the country had suffered a severe negative impact by a number of national and regional lockdowns over the past year, with the sector’s revenue marking a 45% decline in 2020.
- Author
Daniel Williams
