The UK government has been accused of behaving in an “ill-informed and arbitrary” way over the decision to order the closure of casinos and betting shops despite a lack of evidence that they contribute to the spread of Covid-19. Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Michael Dugher has written to Business Secretary Alok Sharma urging his department to intervene to […]

The Betting and Gaming Council has asked the Government to think again about closing casinos and betting shops in Lancashire as the impact on COVID cases will be negligible – but the economic damage will be huge. The move comes after the Government placed the region in Tier 3 of its Covid-19 restrictions, meaning it faces the most severe lockdown […]

Casinos have offered to stop selling alcohol in order to avoid catastrophic closures which could lead to thousands of job losses. The venues – which employ 14,000 people and raised £1.3bn for the Treasury in the last three years – fear being forced to close their doors once again in the latest round of Covid restrictions being introduced by the […]

The UK Gambling Commission recently announced stricter measures for betting companies with VIP customer schemes. The measures are aimed at ensuring high-value customers are spending sustainably, and to curb irresponsible incentivisation. Companies will also have to conduct ongoing gambling harm checks on each person to spot signs of problem gambling, and to appoint a senior executive to personally be responsible […]

Standards body the Betting and Gaming Council has unveiled a new code of conduct for the design of online games in a bid to improve player safety and tackle problem gambling. Measures include the slowing down of spin speeds, banning several gaming features which have caused concern and improved access to safer gambling information. The new Game Design Code of […]

Casino bosses have called on Rishi Sunak to announce an urgent Government rescue package to save thousands of jobs in the sector which have been put at risk by the Covid curfew. A total of 14,000 posts are at risk as a result of the shutdown, which forces hospitality and leisure venues to close at 10pm. The Chancellor is due […]

Responding to Boris Johnson’s announcement of further Covid restrictions, Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Boris Johnson may well have signalled the death knell for the casino industry by including them in the list of venues which will be forced to close their doors at 10pm. “He has taken this decision despite the sector offering […]

London’s casinos have offered to close their bars if plans for a Covid curfew in the capital go ahead amid warnings the shutdown could cost thousands of jobs. London mayor Sadiq Khan is thought to be in favour of a curfew, which would see leisure and hospitality venues forced to close their doors at 10pm. But in a letter to […]

North-east England is under new, tighter restrictions following a spike in Covid-19 infections in the area. The tighter controls mean that pubs and bars – and casinos are included in this, despite not being allowed to open until some time after pubs earlier in the year – are now subject to a 10pm curfew. Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the […]

Thousands of jobs in the UK’s casino sector would be lost if 10pm curfews were imposed on businesses in an attempt to tackle Covid-19, the Betting and Gaming Council has warned. Central government and local authorities are considering the drastic measure, which would see venues across the country forced to close their doors. In a letter to Culture Secretary Oliver […]