November 2020: betting shops could reopen, but Tier 3 casinos could not

The end of England’s second national lockdown did not mean the same thing for every gambling venue. In November 2020, betting shops were preparing to reopen under restrictions, while casinos in Tier 3 areas faced continued closure.

The Betting and Gaming Council’s announcement on 23 November described limits on customer numbers, removal of chairs and no live sport on screens in betting shops. Reopening was therefore a qualified change, rather than a return to the familiar routine.

The same announcement recorded the BGC’s disappointment that Tier 3 casinos would remain closed. Its chief executive, Michael Dugher, argued for their reopening. That was the industry body’s position; it should not be read as independent proof that every casino or arcade presented the same risk.

For regular visitors, the different treatment was frustrating. For staff and owners, it affected rotas, income and whether there was any realistic prospect of trading through the winter. Those practical consequences were the heart of this story.

This is a report from November 2020. It preserves the distinction in that announcement without suggesting that the temporary tier rules still apply.

BGC’s announcement on 23 November 2020