London casinos aim to evite curfew, close bars

2020-09-25

London Casinos Look to Avoid Curfew, Offer to Close Bars

Casinos in London came up with a counter-proposal to the concept of a general COVID curfew that will see both entertainment and leisure companies closing up at 10 p.m. in the capital. Instead of the solution that was already put on casinos and entertainment centers in other parts of the country, the gambling enterprises suggested shutting down their bars.

London Casinos Approach to Mayor

26 land-based casinos in the capital expressed their reservations in a letter to Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who is believed to be in support of the general curve. The gaming company leaders, including the founders of the Hippodrome, the Grosvenor, Caesars and the Clermont Club, found out that after 10 p.m. the bulk of casino activity, 70%, takes place, and that a curfew will be devastating to the industry.

Casinos usually add over £180 million a year to the city's economy, helping to maintain about 4,000 jobs in the process, but are still suffering from the detrimental effect of the lockdown, as well as the virus-induced effects on the capital's tourism. The casino establishments were only recently permitted to restart operations and their activities would be further hampered by the new general curfew.

Protection precautions approved by senior health officials the CEOs stated to the Mayor that gaming facilities were given the definitive go-ahead to reopen by senior public health officials, including Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam, who had observed the protective measures and procedures that casinos had placed in place to protect the public and their workers.

The casino establishments, which hire 14,000 people around the country and have paid £1.3 billion in tax over the last three years to the Treasury, felt their industry would have a significant economic effect if a blanket ban were enforced.

"If London is forced to a curfew of 10pm, most of our casinos will be unviable and others will eventually disappear, with the loss of hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the city as the furlough scheme comes to the end."

Official letter

Alcohol Threatens Virus Spread, Not Gaming

Casino bosses voiced their concerns that instead of addressing the big problem that leads most to the large community. The probability of party gathering on casino floors in the tiny hours is very remote, the CEOs illustrated, as the average age of a casino guest is 48 due to lack of young people.

The counter proposal has the approval of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) of the casino industry body. Michael Dugher, CEO of BGC, explained that a general curfew would devastate the sector and would enable them to blend in households instead of reducing the possibility of youth congregations. A more rational solution will be to close bars and restaurants in the capital at 10 p.m. and the casinos would support it by shutting their bars at that point, Mr Dugher concluded.