After massacring several gladiators, Maximus Decimus Meridius stood in the middle of a packed amphitheatre and questioned: “Are you not entertained?” The audience was there for the thrill and adrenalin rush that came with cheering on their favourite warrior, whilst possibly placing a bet or two. Now whilst I know this was a film, the entire proposition of gladiators (not the spandex-wearing ITV show) was divisive, just like gambling can be today. However, whether placing a bet online, at betting shops or casinos, it has always been, for a lot of attendees, a leisure activity that gets the blood pumping.
Apart from the obvious potential financial gain, most people gamble for entertainment purposes and in the case of casinos and bingo halls, this extends to eating and drinking out too. They are a place to socialise and more importantly a source of employment for people all over the country. Just like other businesses, such as shops, bars and restaurants, they employ hundreds, or potentially thousands, of people who all have their own bills to pay.
So, during this unprecedented time of national crisis why are casinos, bingo halls and betting shops not qualifying for the business rates relief?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a package of new measures last week to support UK businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. £330 billion in business loans have been reserved to help the UK economy try and overcome the damaging effects of COVID-19.
However, whilst businesses listed under the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors will be able to make insurance claims against their policies and remain exempt from business rates for 12 months, casinos, bingo halls and betting shops will not.
Casinos and bingo halls are a triple threat of leisure activities, providing food, drink and entertainment but are not classified as such. Furthermore, the government currently categorises betting shops as financial services!
I understand these classifications were in place before the crisis but is it not time to take a moment to reassess or extend the same relief to these businesses?
Despite the lingering negative opinion some people may have about the gambling industry, this perception should not be taken into consideration if they look to review the current situation. The betting shops have just come out of their most financially testing year to date due to the fixed-odds betting terminal (FOBT) transaction limit reduction last April. A huge percentage of shops had to close as a result of income loss and now, just like the gladiators in the amphitheatres, they’ve been dealt a potentially fatal blow with the cancellation of most sporting events and Friday’s announcement to close their doors along with casinos.
I appreciate the government is doing all it can to navigate us through these uncharted waters and it is extremely difficult to help everyone. I support all the measures they have taken so far to manage the crisis, including the decision regarding closures. However, it is my hope for the industry, operators and most importantly all their employees across the country that the government reconsider their decision regarding rate relief and insurance claims. Otherwise, we will see the casinos, bingo halls and betting shops crumble like the Colosseum.
By Owen Tustin, VP Relationship Management at emerchantpay