BGC Praises The Reopening Of Scottish Betting Shops After Four Months
The BGC has praised the reopening of Scottish betting shops this week after a four-week closure.
Yesterday (April 26), Scotland’s 750 betting shops were given the green light to reopen, allowing Scottish punters to visit the shops for the first time in four months. However, as part of the reopening, all gaming machines will remain off, TV volume has been lowered, and all customers are required to provide contact details.
In a post celebrating the news, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) states that Scotland’s betting shops employ a combined total of 4,000 people and pay £80 million in tax and £6 million in business rates.
The reopening of Scottish betting shops comes two weeks after betting shops reopened in England and Wales. According to the BGC, betting shops across the UK support 46,000 jobs and pay almost £1 billion a year in tax to the Treasury and have helped contributed £350 million into the horseracing industry too.
Praising the news, BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said in a statement: “Following the safe reopening of betting shops in England and Wales earlier this month, Scottish shops getting back to business is another step towards normality and a welcome boost for jobs on the high street in Scotland.
“It’s great news for their staff and customers, and of course it is an important source of funding for horseracing. As we look forward to a great summer of sport, Scottish punters will once again be able to safely enjoy a flutter on the high street.”
Paddy Power Confirms Reopening Of Betting Shops In England, Scotland And Wales
Also this week, Paddy Power has confirmed the reopening of its betting shops in England, Scotland, and Wales, although shops located in Ireland will remain closed. The betting shop brand announced the news yesterday (April 26) and revealed the Covid-19 safety guidelines each shop will follow.
According to Paddy Power’s news article, the restrictions include a maximum capacity of eight people on the shop floor, only two gaming machines will be allowed on at any given time, all furniture will be removed, and there will be no televised live sports. What’s more, betting shops will close at 8 PM, and customers will be limited to two visits a day of a maximum of 15 minutes.
In addition to the above restrictions, Paddy Power will encourage customers to use hand sanitisers when entering shops, before and after using machines, and when leaving shops. It’s also urged customers to take or bin pens after using them to write out bets, to use contactless payment, to scan the NHS Track and Trace QR code, and to follow floor markings in-store.
In a brief statement on the Paddy Power website, the brand said: “Our number one priority is keeping our customers and team members safe. So, all our shops will follow the latest government guidelines on social distancing and ensure other public health requirements are met in full, in the interests of colleagues and customers.”
Operator SkillOnNet Launches New Online Casino
Meanwhile, leading gambling operator SkillOnNet has launched a brand new online casino, Zebra Wins, which it promises will provide players with a “fun and thrilling experience” with over 3,000 unique video slots to choose from.
According to a press release at European Gaming, the brand new online casino website has launched in the UK and in other regulated markets too. It’s been launched by a team of industry veterans and includes content from some of the most popular game developers around, including Microgaming, Play’n GO, Merkur Gaming, Yggdrasil, Evolution, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and more.
In addition to the above high-quality casino content, the website accepts a wide selection of payment options and currencies, offers fast withdrawal times, and provides all new customers with a generous welcome bonus too. Finally, the website also features SkillOnNet’s popular Daily Picks, offering new bonuses every day, and it runs a loyalty scheme for all long-term players.
Jerry Land of SkillOnNet, said in a statement: “I am delighted to welcome Zebra Wins to [a] growing roster of online casinos powered by our award-winning platform. We have built a reputation for allowing new brands to enter regulated markets with a leading proposition.
“Not only that, but our platform offers a portfolio of more than 3,000 slots, casino and live dealer games, a great selection of localised payment options and round the clock customer support – everything a casino brand needs to succeed. Zebra Wins combines this with an experienced management team and a concept and theme that will undoubtedly prove to be a big hit with players in markets across Europe.”
Adele Sinclair, the Managing Director of 15 Marketing, the owner of Zebra Wins, added: “We are thrilled to debut Zebra Wins to players in regulated markets across Europe and for them to enjoy the incredible online casino experience we have created for the first time. This would not have been possible without SkillOnNet. Its platform and game portfolio provide the foundation we need to offer players the unrivalled levels of fun and entertainment that we are promising.”
The news comes several weeks after SkillOnNet launched its ‘Safe Mate’ responsible gambling as part of a partnership with Neccton. The tool, designed in collaboration with behavioural scientists and psychologists, tracks how much money customers have deposited and wagered, and how much time they’ve spent gambling over a six-month period.
The news also comes after the operator signed a content partnership with game developer 1X2 Gaming, under which the studio’s entire selection of casino games has been made available with SkillOnNet brands, including PlayOJO, Slingo, Lord Ping, PlayToro, and numerous others.