Betfred boss Done hits out at 'unfair' closure of shops in new Tier 3 measures

Betfred founder Fred Done has led criticism of the government’s Covid-19 restrictions that have forced the closure of more than 1,100 betting shops across the north of England, a move that has been branded unfair and confusing and will be a huge blow for the betting and racing industries.

On Wednesday, South Yorkshire became the latest area of England to agree to enter the Tier 3 very high alert level from Saturday, following the Liverpool City region, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, which have all experienced increasing cases of the coronavirus.

Closing betting shops is not included as part of the baseline restrictions for Tier 3 areas, with government and local authorities able to negotiate whether to shutter additional businesses beyond the minimum requirements or to keep them open.

However, by Saturday all 1,176 betting shops across the four areas will be shut, affecting 5,775 employees. According to Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) figures the shops generate £38.1 million a year for horseracing in levy and media rights payments.

Done believes the government is ignoring the work that has been put in to make betting shops Covid-19 safe since reopening after lockdown in mid-June, and argued the closures were being made without appropriate scientific evidence.

He said: “It looks like, despite a lack of evidence, betting shops have been unfairly forced to close in all Tier 3 regions. Our staff have worked tirelessly to make our shops Covid-19 secure and I have not seen any evidence that betting shops are sources of community transmission.

Fred Done: 'Betting shops have been unfairly forced to close'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I have also not seen any evidence that betting shops are any different to other non-essential retail outlets that are remaining open.

“We support measures that will stop the spread of disease but the restrictions on betting shops have not been properly thought through and are not evidence-based decisions. From this Saturday I will have over 1,500 staff at home that want to work. I would urge government to reconsider betting shops closing as part of any Tier 3 restrictions.”

The decision to place South Yorkshire – covering Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield – into Tier 3 was taken after "extensive discussions" with the government, according to Labour's Sheffield City mayor Dan Jarvis, who also announced that soft play centres, casinos and adult gaming centres would temporarily close in the region.

The restrictions mean nearly a third of the 45 betting shops run by independent bookmaker Mark Jarvis Betting would be shut, affecting 60 jobs, with managing director Paul Graham concerned about the mixed and unclear messaging coming from the government.

He said: “The communication [from government] has not been great and the flip-flopping on which category betting shops fall under is difficult to understand.

“Betting shops have changed massively, even in the last decade. People don't sit and bet all day. They come in, browse and then place bets. They perhaps stay for a race or two, but it's not like a pub where many people can be in the same place for significant periods of time.

“Safety is paramount and we all want the pandemic over with but I'm not sure what the scientific basis for shutting betting shops is. We put all the social distancing measures in place in our shops so we could reopen in June and I don't know why there has been a change in stance."

He added: "It's been an extremely tough period for the industry in the last 18 months and now we are faced with Covid-19. I think this is going to be very significant and could be a huge blow.”

The prospect of further shop closures and its impact on bookmakers was highlighted by William Hill chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson on Wednesday, with approximately one in ten of the firm’s shops unable to operate due to the Tier 3 measures.

Speaking on a video to coincide with the bookmaker's trading update on Wednesday, Bengtsson said: "Clearly UK retail is overshadowed by the uncertainty that the government response to the Covid situation is bringing. We currently have roughly ten per cent of our estate closed down and we do anticipate further closures in the next three to six months."

The closure of betting shops as part of Tier 3 restrictions is “not remotely about science”, according to BGC chief executive Michael Dugher, who has written to business secretary Alok Sharma calling the move “anti-gambling industry” and demanding they be reviewed.

Reacting to the South Yorkshire changes and the decision to allow gyms to reopen in Liverpool having initially been closed, Dugher wrote on Twitter: "Betting shops reopened safely back in June under non-essential retail. Gyms were not.

"I also know that Public Health England were concerned about reopening gyms compared with casinos. Let’s not anyone – mayors or government – pretend that Tier 3 closures are remotely about the science."

A circuit-breaker lockdown comes intro force in Wales from 6pm on Friday, forcing the closure of the country's 366 betting shops until November 9, a period of 17 days.

Read more:

William Hill warn of local lockdown effects as revenue falls in third quarter

Manchester betting shops forced to close from Friday under Tier 3 restrictions

Welsh betting shops to close on Friday as part of circuit-breaker lockdown

Place bets with seven bookmakers without leaving the free Racing Post app. Same prices, same offers, live video. Every race, every day. Search 'Racing Post App' to download for free