Retail

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has urged Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak to ‘keep being flexible’ following the latest update to the Government’s COVID-19 furlough scheme. Welcoming Sunak’s extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the standards body acknowledged that a number of its members ‘will be forced to operate at a reduced capacity for the foreseeable future’. …

In accordance with the Scottish Government’s route map for exiting lockdown, Scottish racing has been given the green light to resume behind closed doors from Monday 22 June. Discussions are currently taking place between Scottish Racing and the Scottish Government to support the resumption of race day fixtures. Scottish Racing’s Manager, Delly Innes, said: “The public can have confidence in …

Sporting Index has confirmed that it has ‘onboarded’ legendary champion jockey Frankie Dettori as its new brand ambassador. The colourful Italian, who has won 19 British Classics and is currently recognised as the ‘LONGINES – World’s best jockey’, has joined the Sporting Index stable and will help promote the spread betting firm’s fixed-odds betting markets, which were launched in 2019. …

The UK’s retail betting sector has continued to bear the brunt of last April’s FOBT ruling, with data released by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) showing a 12.1% decline in the number of shops between March 2019 and October 2019. The number of betting shops on the UK high street dropped to 7,315 in September 2019, while the total number …

Marking the return of racing, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has secured a new broadcast agreement with Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) to boost the coverage of the sport. As part of the agreement, RTÉ confirmed that it will be launching a series of new one-hour evening programmes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in June and early July. Coverage will be presented …

Irish bookmakers will reopen their doors on 29 June, as the country enters phase three of the Government’s strategy to ease COVID-19 measures. The confirmation follows a meeting of Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) members, which revealed that an agreement has been reached to reopen 755 of the nation’s 814 betting shops. Ireland closed its betting shops in mid-March, for a …

Spain’s DGOJ has issued new guidance related to gambling venues reopening their business premises. Since mid-May, Spain’s federal council has enabled provincial governments to gradually ease lockdown restrictions, allowing retail and leisure businesses to reopen on the condition that they obey strict social distancing orders.  Having reviewed the government’s ‘phase 2’ arrangements, the DGOJ has now published new guidance adding …