FRANCE
Casinos in France, which shut down in March to curb the spread of Covid-19, started to reopen June 2, with the exception of those in so-called “orange zones,” where transmission of the virus is higher.
According to reports, casinos in Paris and the surrounding administrative department Ile-de-France are still considered to be at risk and will remain closed.
“Green-zone” casinos will operate with the expected safety measures: reduced occupancy, enhanced cleaning schedules, hand-sanitization stations, and in many cases, mandatory face masks for customers and employees.
Groupe Partouche is reopening all 38 of its casinos in the country, but will only make slot machines and electronic games available for now, and those machines will then be spaced apart with a Plexiglas screen between each machine. The machines will be regularly disinfected. Table games will be return later, the operator said.
Groupe Barrière, which operates 33 casinos, sees digitalization as a way to limit interaction between staff and patrons. “Our employees have mobilized, each in their own way, to bring their expertise and innovative ideas to implement new health protocols and anticipate the new expectations of our customers in our hotels, restaurants, bars and casinos,” said Dominique Desseigne, Barrière president and CEO. “Today, we want to take an active part in the economic recovery of tourism in France and be a player in the return to conviviality and serenity. Our only mission: we take care of everything, especially you.”
AUSTRIA
On May 29, Casinos Austria reopened its 12 casinos in Baden, Bregenz, Graz, Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, Kleinwalsertal, Linz, Salzburg, Seefeld, Velden, Vienna and Zell am See.
“Under the motto #dasGLÜCKistback, the employees look forward to being able to personally greet the guests again after the corona-related closure and to offer play, excitement and enjoyment again as part of a restricted operation,” the group stated.
Social distancing will be enforced on the gaming floor. Customers must maintain a distance of at least one meter (3.2 feet) from other guests, and wear a face mask while in the property. Casinos will accept cash payments, but encourage customers to use contactless cards when possible. Restaurants in the casinos also reopened May 29.
A total of 17 of 20 WinWin arcade locations in Austria also reopened on that day. They are located in Salzburg, Tyrol, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Vienna and Carinthia.
The group added: “In order to curb the spread of the virus and prevent health risks to individuals, we ask our guests to comply with the published guidelines and precautions. If customers have had contact with people with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, we ask them to refrain from visiting our WinWin locations. On the recommendation of the health authorities, we kindly ask guests who have travelled directly from risky areas in Italy, China and other countries over the past two weeks not to visit the WinWin locations for safety reasons, especially if the first symptoms of flu appear.”
U.K.
July 4 will be a welcome independence day for casinos in the U.K. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) announced last week that casinos and other leisure and hospitality businesses across the country will be permitted to reopen that day, observing strict social distancing and hygiene measures.
“Nothing is more important to the casino sector than the safety of staff and customers,” said BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher. “I know that the casino operators have been working tirelessly to ensure that when they do reopen for business again, every possible measure will be in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone who enters the premises.”
Entry to casinos will also be limited to one person at a time, and people will be advised to keep a two-meter (6.5-foot) distance while standing on line. All customers will be required to use hand sanitizers before entering and when joining or leaving a table.
Table capacities will be limited, and gaming machines will cleaned after each session. ATMs will be sanitized on the hour. Plexiglas screens will provide safe screens where possible.
In a statement, the BGC reminded lawmakers that the casino sector contributes more than £300 million a year to the U.K. Exchequer, and employs nearly 13,000 people. “Casinos make a significant contribution to the economy, including through taxation and employment, as part of the leisure, hospitality, entertainment and tourism sectors,” the statement said.
“The message to the government now is that they are ready, willing and able to open safely. … We would also urge the government to continue to be flexible in their approach to the hospitality and leisure industry as its furlough scheme is wound down … and continue providing support as the country emerges from the pandemic.”
SPAIN
Spanish gaming trade association the Consejo Empresarial del Juego (Cejuego) has slammed the government’s decision to keep casinos closed for now, extending a lockdown that began March 14.
The government has put gambling facilities in Phase 3 of the reopening process. As of June 1, only gaming halls in the Canary Islands and Formentera were free to reopen. Cejuego wondered by gaming venues must remain shuttered bars and retail stores have already been permitted to reopen
“According to the Royal Decree of March 14, once the de-escalation began, it would be carried out by health-related criteria and not by area of activity: this is not being respected,” Cejuego CEO Alejandro Landaluce said. “It is being carried out in a discriminatory way and as a sector we feel disadvantaged.”
Cejuego also criticized the limitations that venues will have to observe when they’re back in business, with no more than 50 people inside, including staff. The association said that’s fine for smaller gaming rooms and betting shops, but is “incompatible for the opening of casinos and bingo halls.”
“We do not understand that a restriction of 50 people is applied to the gambling venues, regardless of the capacity of the room, as it is a measure that does not adhere to sanitary reasons and that is not applied in other activities similar to gambling,” Landaluce said. “Establishments such as bingo halls and casinos require a large number of staff to operate, so this measure is incompatible with the opening of the activity in many cases.”
According to Cejuego, more than 47,000 people are employed in the retail gaming sector in Spain, and 174,500 indirect jobs are related to the market.
“It is difficult to explain to your workers that they have to continue to be on furlough while they see how other sectors with similar characteristics are returning to work,” Landaluce said. “We face daily the uncertainty of whether the opening authorization will take place or not within a period of less than 24 hours, without prior notice that allows us to prepare the venues and employees for the opening.”
SWITZERLAND
Casinos in Switzerland were permitted to reopen starting June 6, after being shut down for more than two months.
The Switzerland National Council (Bundesrat) also said gatherings of up to 300 people, including at sporting events, would be allowed as of that date, with professional sports resuming June 8.
Measures will be reviewed again by June 24, with the Bundesrat set to further ease restrictions and permit gatherings of up to 1,000 people, reported CDC Gaming Reports. Events with more than 1,000 people will be prohibited until at least August 31.
Casinos in Bulgaria opened last week. Casinos in the Netherlands are set to reopen on July 1.
In related news, horse racing is coming back throughout Europe after months of lockdown resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The U.K. restarted the first week of June. Racing in Scotland got the green light to resume June 22, like the U.K. without spectators. The industry is also working with public health officials to protect those coming back to work against the risk of transmission of Covid-19.
“We are fully prepared to stage race meetings in a strictly controlled environment which fully comply with all the requirements of governmental and racing industry bodies, once they decide the time is right to resume racing,” Scottish Racing Manager, Delly Innes said, according to SBC News.
Scottish Racing will follow a six-point plan which outlines protocols for the return of racing, including who is permitted to attend during the early stages. Another measure is a compulsory pre-race day health screening requirement; information about the use of personal protective equipment and face coverings; and compliance with social distancing requirements.
In Spain, horse racing returned June 3 and football will be back on June 11.
The horse racing Asociación de Hipódromos authorized the return of racing at the Basque racecourse San Sebastian, with racing at other tracks throughout the country to follow. Two race meets will be held per week until the end of the year, with all broadcast on television and streamed online.
La Liga, Spain’s top football division, and the second-tier Segunda Division will resume play after an announcement from the National Sporting Council and the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The first match will be the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. The season is set to end the weekend of July 18, but could change.
As part of the plan for the return of the sport, players will be tested for Covid-19 and training facilities and stadia will be disinfected.
La Liga was suspended March 12 when the Real Madrid squad went into quarantine after a player with the club’s basketball team tested positive for the virus. The suspension came with 11 out of 38 games still to play and defending champions Barcelona two points clear of Real Madrid.
