There's no masking the social importance of betting shops as a hub of humanity

Remember the good old days when anyone entering a betting shop with a mask would set the alarm bells ringing, the days when the screens protecting staff were to keep bandits at bay rather than the dreaded coronavirus?

Well, those days are gone – for now at least – and from Friday anyone entering all manner of shops in England will be required to wear a face mask. The regulation was already in place in Scotland and came into effect in Ireland on Monday.

You may be required to lower your mask to prove you are over 18 – although appearing baffled or looking at your watch when asked if you have the TikTok app might suffice. Seeing your face might also be necessary to comply with 'know your customer' guidelines to ensure you are not on the list of those who have self-excluded on responsible gambling grounds or been excluded for a whole raft of potential crimes and misdemeanours.