UK casinos propose a ban on alcohol

Casinos have offered to stop selling alcohol to avoid a catastrophic shutdown that could cost thousands of jobs.

The venue, which has hired 14,000 people and raised £1.3bn for the Treasury over the past three years, fears it will have to close once again in the latest Covid-19 restrictions introduced by the government.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce a new three-tier regional lockdown system next week, which could order accommodation businesses to close for weeks to bring down infection rates.

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon announced the closure of hospitality venues, including casinos, across the central Scottish belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Casinos in England and Wales said a similar move at the border would be catastrophic for a sector already reeling from the impact of the first lockdown earlier this year.

They were only able to reopen in August, supported by the British Public Health Agency, until they were hit by a curfew on accommodation and leisure venues from 10pm last month.

That's up to a 70% drop in casino revenue compared to 12 months ago.

In a last-ditch effort to avoid closing down businesses, the sector said it was prepared to stop selling alcohol altogether to ensure it was left off the list of businesses under orders to close down.

Michael Derher, chairman of the Betting and Gaming Commission, has written to all current lawmakers urging them to lobby the government to ensure casinos remain open.

Mr Derher said: "Casino has already proven COVID-safe according to Public Health England, thanks to its world-class track and trace system, the use of perspex screens, hand sanitizers and strict social distancing rules.

"We know casinos are relatively small, the impact on COVID is minimal, and we've been operating virtually perfectly safe since we reopened in August. There is no basis for public health to order closures at this time.

"Ministers need to understand that casinos are not pseudo-night clubs or places where young people go to drink. Nevertheless, they are willing to further reduce their risk levels by refusing to provide alcohol, and the government seems to think this is another factor in the spread of the virus.

"In light of all this, I would like to urge ministers to be reasonable and continue to play a role in stopping the spread of the coronavirus, while keeping casinos safe and increasing much-needed tax revenue for the Treasury."

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