Traditional betting shops and land-based gaming rooms have lost the race with their online counterparts. Internet gambling is now the dominant form of entertainment in the United Kingdom and the coronavirus crisis only amplified the pain of brick-and-mortar venues. There is finally some good news for England’s betting shops, as they have finally opened their doors after a 12 weeks hiatus. The last three months have been particularly difficult for their owners, as they’ve lost even more customers to online betting.
What are the expectations for this summer?
Major betting branches in the UK have opened shop once again while enforcing strict social distancing controls. The decision to reopen these ventures came at the best possible time, as the English Premier League has returned for the final rounds. There were also major horse racing event such as the Royal Ascot Festival and punters had plenty to bet on in June. July promises to be even more exciting and if everything goes according to the plan, the tennis tournaments will also return in August.
The prospects for the summer are not particularly optimistic though, at least not for those who were hoping to watch the games from the stands. With all sporting events to take place behind closed doors, the fans will enjoy the actions mostly through betting. The land-based parlors are ready to provide this type of excitement to those who want to turn the heat up a notch and make sports betting events more exciting. Their offers are similar to what their online counterparts provide, so there are no compromises to be made
Safety measures deployed in betting shops
Ladbrokes Coral and William Hill have opened their betting shops in accord with the latest regulations. Those who enter the premises can expect to see hand sanitizer offered at the entrance and sneeze screens protecting employees. The safety measures are in place to protect everyone involved, while creating a secure environment for people who enjoy betting. Disposable touchscreen pens are also available, so people don’t have to use their fingers when activating the electronic betting terminals.
The investments made by the gaming operators are supposed to give players the peace of mind, while also complying with the regulations. Apparently they are yielding the expected results, since customers are returning in great numbers to enjoy the thrills of the game. People are expected to adhere to the social distancing measures and do their part, so they don’t jeopardize their health. Queuing outside betting shops is also necessary sometimes, but usually there are not enough people to make this mandatory. The online casino market has seen a 10% increase reported by playUK.com back in June.
England was the first to open betting shops, with the rest of the UK following suit. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were late to the party and the local gaming ventures had to comply with a slightly different set of rules. A similar approach was taken in the Republic of Ireland, which without being part of the UK has acted in similar fashion.
