The Betting and Gaming Council has called on Rishi Sunak to show continued flexibility after the chancellor provided the latest update on the government’s COVID furlough scheme.
The BGC, which represents the UK’s regulated betting and gaming industry, including companies owning casinos and bingo halls, welcomed the chancellor’s pledge to maintain support for firms affected by the pandemic as the lockdown eases.
Last month Sunak announced that the current furlough scheme, which sees the government pay 80 per cent of wages up to £2,500 a month, would run until the end of July.
Alterations unveiled in May confirmed that employers will have to pay their employees’ national insurance and pension contributions in August, with ten per cent of staff wages having to be covered a month later. This will rise to 20 per cent in October as the Treasury contribution falls to 60 per cent.
Welcoming continued support for businesses affected by the health crisis, the BGC asserts that it will, in particular, enable bingo halls and casinos to get back up and running whilst retaining control over staffing, their biggest cost.
BGC chief executive Michael Dugher urged ministers to continue to show as much flexibility as possible in their approach to the crisis, arguing that further help may be required to the hospitality and leisure sectors down the line: “Any help for businesses from the government at this time of global crisis is of course welcome, and we thank the chancellor for providing more clarity on how the furlough scheme will operate until the end of October.
“Even though the lockdown is easing, many of our member companies – and in particular in casinos and bingo halls – will be forced to operate at a reduced capacity for the foreseeable future because of the need to maintain strict social distancing.”
Sunak had previously confirmed that the coronavirus job retention scheme will continue until October, a move designed tol help to support the 64,000 people who work in the retail betting and gaming industry.
Since March 20, all betting shops, bingo halls and casinos have been closed as part of the national effort to slow the spread of the virus. Betting shops are due to begin reopening under government plans in June, along with other ‘non-essential retail’.
Dugher added: “Given the significant contribution the hospitality and leisure sector makes to the UK economy, we would urge Mr Sunak keep being flexible and acknowledge that it will continue to need support from the government as the country emerges from the pandemic.
“We have had super engagement with the government up until now, and we look forward to that continuing so we can ensure the betting and gaming industry can play its full part in getting the UK back on its feet.”
