Dutch casinos closed last week along with museums, theatres, amusement parks, cinemas, and other public entertainment venues for the third time this year. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte imposed the lockdown because the first two didn’t reduce the number of Covid 19 cases. The venues will be closed from December 15 to January 19, 2021.
Restaurants are also included in the lockdown, including in hotels. Holland Casinos, the country’s exclusive casino operator, closed all 14 of its properties.
In Cyprus, all four of the casinos operated by a subsidiary of Melco Entertainment also shut down. C2 Limassol, C2 Nicosia, C2 Ayia Napa and C2 Paphos will be eligible to reopen on December 31.
In the Czech Republic, casinos reopened on December 3 under strict capacity limitation, but after a surge in Covid, they shut down again on December 18 until December 24.
French casinos, which were slated to reopen last week, had their lockdown extended another three weeks.
In Denmark, where the government shut down casinos and slot parlors in 38 times, the lockdown went nationwide. All casinos and slot halls will be closed until at least January 3.
With parts of the U.K. under strict Tier 3 Covid-19 lockdowns, indoor entertainment in London, which includes casinos, have been forced to close again until further notice. Greater London and much of southern England have limited indoor gatherings, and pubs and restaurants are limited to takeouts and deliveries.
With the lifting of some Covid restrictions in Scotland, however, about 400 betting shops have begun operating there. On December 11, “non-essential” retail to reopen, including betting shops.
Covid infection rates have fallen under the strict restrictions.
The U.K. Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) hailed the shop reopenings but called for casinos to join them. Casinos in the U.K. were closed from March to August, closed again in October, and most recently shut their doors on December 16.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher said, “It’s great news for staff and customers that betting shops can open their doors again,” noting the safety measures they have taken, including adding clear plastic dividers and social distancing.
