London Casinos Offer Compromise on Covid-19 Curfews

To avoid thousands of job losses across the industry, casinos in London have offered to temporarily close their bar areas to help manage the recent spike in cases of the Coronavirus. This is due to the government expected to announce strict curfews in the coming days. Areas in the north-east of England have already been subject to new restrictions, being forced to close between the hours for 10 pm and 5 am, 7 days a week. 

Sadiq Khan has received a letter of compromise from 24 casinos in London in a plea to protect industry revenue. In the letter, industry figureheads offer to compromise the use of their bars but wish to be able to stay open through the night under the restrictions they have already been following since last month. These measures include social distancing, track and trace, sanitisation stations and Perspex screens in desired areas.

“If London is subjected to a 10 pm curfew, most of our casinos will be unviable and some will inevitably close, with the loss of hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the capital as the furlough scheme nears its end,” the letter said.

The industry has stated that their idea behind the closure of bars will stop people congregating, ensuring socially distancing throughout their venues.  

“By all means address the core issue of drinking rather than slamming a blanket curfew on our venues which would do nothing to suppress the spread of the virus but which would simply sound the death knell for jobs and for famous London casinos,” the letter added.

“Closing our bars rather than our entire casinos would have a more limited impact on our revenues, would protect jobs, preserve the future of casinos and would retain tax receipts for the Treasury.”

After several tough months for the industry Betting and Gambling Council’s CEO, Michael Dugher has expressed his concern for the lasting damage this curfew will have on the industry.

“It is no exaggeration to say that a blanket 10 pm curfew would be devastating for a sector which does more than half of its business after that time and which is still struggling to get back on its feet following the first lockdown and the collapse of tourism,” Dugher said.

The BGC (Betting and Gambling Council) also aimed to protect their venues in the north-east of England before time restrictions were due to come into force. A few weeks ago, business owners of the area wrote to the government's Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, warning him of fears that if the measures were to be rolled out nationwide, thousands of jobs would be in jeopardy.

“The 10 pm curfew just risks encouraging young people to mix in households, where there is no track and trace, and spreading the virus further and faster,” Dugher said. “But if the London Mayor or Government want to close pubs and restaurants at 10 pm, we can do that in the casinos too, while continuing to provide a best-in-class COVID-secure environment. This might be a sensible compromise.

“The alternative is the prospect of thousands of job losses – both in London and across the UK – and the permanent closure of some of the capital’s most iconic casinos that can help power our much-needed economic recovery.”