No Grand National day trip to the bookies but betting shops reopen on Monday

The traditional trip to the betting shop will not take place this Grand National day but high street bookmakers in England and Wales will be able to open from Monday as part of the easing of the latest Covid-19 lockdown.

Bookmakers have been preparing shops to make sure they are safe for both staff and customers but there will still be some restrictions in place.

The number of customers allowed in a shop will depend on its size up to a maximum of eight and there will also be a limit on the time they are able to stay in a shop.

There will be no live sports pictures, no chairs and a maximum of two gaming machines allowed to be switched on, while customers will be limited to a maximum of two visits per day and shops will close at 8pm.

Nevertheless Andy Hicks, retail director for Ladbrokes and Coral, said they were looking forward to getting shops betting back open again.

He added: "The last few months has been a tough period for retail and for our shop colleagues with shops shut but there’s now a light at the end of the tunnel, and our operational teams have been working tirelessly to ensure we are ready across England and Wales to open all our shops on Monday.

"There will still be social distancing measures and some additional Covid restrictions in place for a few weeks, but it will just be great to get the betting shop doors open again, and for our colleagues to welcome back their regular customers, who’ve no doubt been missing their visit to their local shop for a chat and a flutter."

Betting shops have been closed since the start of the year under lockdown restrictions and will remain so in Scotland until at least April 26.

Michael Dugher: Betting shop staff looking forward to getting back to business

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chief executive Michael Dugher said: "It's been a long three months for betting shop staff, as well as their customers, and I know they are all looking forward to safely getting back to business thanks to the best-in-class anti-Covid measures in place."

The BGC had called for racing's leaders to move the Grand National to a later date to enable "once-a-year-punters" to have a bet on the race in shops.

Dugher added: "This would have provided a much needed boost to the high street and for racing’s funding, but unfortunately our call fell on deaf ears in some quarters in racing."

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Grand National to remain on April 10 before betting shops reopen

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