The U.K. government allowed leisure and hospitality businesses to reopen on July 4, including bingo halls. But for reasons that casino operators cannot fathom, their businesses were left off the list, along with nightclubs, indoor gyms, swimming pools and beauty salons.
Operators say their properties are Covid-proof, said John O’Reilly, chief executive of the Rank Group, one of the U.K.’s largest land-based casino and bingo operators. The casinos worked with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to introduce a range of health and safety measures.
“Being excluded, therefore, came as a blow,” O’Reilly said. “We’re struggling to understand the rationale, but rather than dwell on the injustice of the decision, I’m keen to encourage members of the government and key decision-makers to come and witness, first-hand, what we’re able to safely guarantee for colleagues and customers.”
He said his properties have established social distancing measures, installed dividers between gaming machines, and placed screens between seated positions at blackjack and roulette tables, as well as at bars.
The BGC says all U.K. casinos have followed the government’s safety and public health guidance, according to SBC News. Safety measures undertaken include limiting entry into venues and supplying face masks to all patrons. “Casino operators have worked round the clock to ensure their premises, and the way they operate, adheres to the government’s strict anti-Covid guidelines,” the BGC said in a statement.
Said O’Reilly, “The plans that we have committed to for the handling and cleaning of chips along with the disposal of cards are designed to provide maximum reassurance for customers. All our social distancing signage is going up and hand sanitizer stations have been installed.”
He reiterated that it is “crucial” that the treasury understand the impacts of keeping casinos and their workers on the sidelines. Rank is burning cash at a rate of £10 million (US$12.5 million) per month, even accounting for digital revenues. “For every day that our Grosvenor casinos remain closed, the liquidity on our balance sheet is being drained,” O’Reilly said. “At the same time, we remain reliant on the government’s furlough payments for the vast majority of our 4,600 Grosvenor colleagues.”
Rank hopes to bring its entire work force back, if part-time at first.
“We are asking the government to quickly review the decision to keep casinos closed, to recognize the safety measures that are in place including our ability to identify every customer on our premises and who they may have interacted with, and to include us when the next opportunity for reopening is discussed,” O’Reilly said.
Meanwhile, 26 Mecca Bingo halls in England launched a phased reopening plan starting on July 4. Owned and operated by the Rank Group, the venues were compelled to close in mid-March when the U.K. established a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
Rank said all Mecca premises were “Covid-proofed” before reopening, with all staff undertaking rigorous training to ensure public safety, venue sanitary standards and social distancing rules. Rank said it will urge customers to use contactless payment methods and venue apps to place food orders.
Jonathon Swaine, managing director of retail at Mecca, said: “We are working together to take every precaution necessary to create a safe environment in which to play the nation’s favorite game. We’re also investing in new entertainment formats in our clubs, to give everyone even better experiences. We are excited to reopen our doors, welcome back our communities and hear ‘House’ called once again.”
According to iGamingBusiness.com, Rank said it’s awaiting further guidance from Welsh and Scottish governments to allow the company to reopen 86 additional U.K. Mecca Bingo properties.
In his statement, O’Reilly said Rank’s commitment to maintaining its entire workforce had been undermined by the government “maintaining casinos in the sidelines.” And the BGC has demanded that the government declare a firm reopening date, reminding lawmakers that the sector employs more than 14,000 people and contributes £300 million a year to the treasury.
