Lifting of Covid restrictions will also help lift frustration over betting shops

Industry representatives called for betting shops to be treated the same as other non-essential retailCredit: David Cramphorn

Lockdown restrictions are scheduled to be lifted in stages across England next month, and some of the frustration felt among high street bookmakers over the treatment of betting shops is set to be lifted with them after prime minister Boris Johnson's announcement of the Covid-19 Winter Plan on Monday.

Betting shops are a critical issue not just for bookmakers but also British racing, as the sport relies on betting shops for millions of pounds of income from media rights and levy.

The industry has been working hard to make its shops as Covid-compliant as possible, while lobbying hard to make the case for betting shops to be allowed to stay open to the authorities.

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Bill BarberIndustry editor

Peter ScargillDeputy industry editor

Published on 23 November 2020inFeatures

Last updated 19:12, 23 November 2020

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