Irish betting shop closures spark fears for retailers without online options

Betting shops haven't been allowed to stay open during lockdown, despite stringent safety measures being applied

Betting shops in Ireland will close for a month on Thursday eveningCredit: Liam McBurney

The closure of Irish betting shops following Ireland's move to full level five restrictions on Wednesday has been described as a huge blow, with Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) chair Sharon Byrne expressing concerns over retail businesses missing out to online operators.

Rising Covid-19 case numbers prompted Taoiseach Micheal Martin to announce the closure of non-essential retail for a month from January 1, a move that comes as another significant hit to the betting shop sector.

"With the figures over Christmas it was partly expected," said Byrne. "It's a huge blow for all retail sectors and their workers, not just our own."

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Mark BoylanReporter

Published on 31 December 2020inNews

Last updated 17:47, 31 December 2020

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