Irish betting shops may remain shut for Cheltenham with 'huge' closures forecast

AS many as a third of Ireland's 800 betting shops are unlikely to open their doors again as the industry plans for a Cheltenham Festival without retail outlets due to the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

“Companies are planning for the possibility,” said Sharon Byrne, chair of the Irish Bookmakers Association, when asked if she felt betting shops would be closed during the festival, which begins on March 16.

She added: “Our operators would have been hopeful of being open for Cheltenham because, if you are ever going to win back those who have left for the online world, Cheltenham is a good time to do that.