Irish betting shop operators relishing return to trading after six-week shutdown

Ireland's 799 betting shops will reopen on Tuesday after a six-week closure, as Irish Bookmakers Association chair Sharon Byrne expressed confidence the outlets provide a safe environment for customers.

The move, greeted with relief by operators across the country, comes as a result of Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland being eased from Level 5 – the most severe – to Level 3 on December 1.

Betting shops were deemed non-essential retail in the government's classifications, and have been closedsince the evening of October 21 in a shutdown described by BoyleSports at the time as "devastating" after the firm had invested more than €1 million in ensuring a safer environment for customers.

Betting shops in England are set to reopen on Wednesday at the conclusion of a four-week lockdown, while outlets in Wales have been accessible to the public since the end of the country's shutdown this month.

Irish Bookmakers Association chair Sharon Byrne: 'Everything in the shop is designed to allow the customer to place their bet safely and leave the shop'Credit: Patrick McCann

"It's welcomed by all retailers and services across the country and I think the government has laid the foundations for operating in a safe manner very well," said Byrne.

"Our members had adopted all the procedures when they opened for the first time around and we're reiterating the importance of face masks, social distancing, not staying in the shop too long."

She added: "We're looking forward to playing our part. Customers are becoming more au fait with what to expect from all retailers in terms of the protocols, so I think it will be a bit easier for them this time around. The last six weeks have reiterated the new normal of what we have to get used to."

Byrne's understanding is that none of the country's betting shops will remain shut, despite the potential for another lockdown in the new year.

"They all have their protocols in place, from cleaning regimes to spacing out of newspapers – everything in the shop is designed to allow the customer to place their bet safely and leave the shop," she said. "My members are very confident that it's a safe environment and they need to play their part to keep it that way."

Paddy Power's interim director of Irish retail Richard Grant: 'We are excited to welcome back our loyal customers to the safest possible environment'

Paddy Power's interim director of Irish retail Richard Grant was keen to praise the efforts of those working in shops during the pandemic.

"We're delighted to be able to get back in action with our Irish retail business," he said. "It’s been a long and uncertain year but our shop teams across the country have been nothing short of incredible throughout.

"We are excited to welcome back our loyal customers to the safest possible environment and hopefully we can look forward to 2021 with some optimism."

A BoyleSports spokesperson added: "We are delighted to be able to welcome our customers back into our retail outlets. We look forward to reopening our stores which have been adapted in line with public-health guidance to ensure the safety of our staff and our customers, which is always a priority to BoyleSports."

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