The Spring Budget for 2021 is due to be announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, on March 3rd. With concerns for industry recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has written to Sunak with proposals for a five-point plan to help businesses in this sector.
One of these proposals within the five-point plan is to extend the business rates relief that was introduced in March 2020. While these were initially not applicable to businesses in the gambling industry, the BGC lobbied to have them included.
Their plans now include asking for the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales to also include similar steps in their business-recovery plans.
In England, betting shops are being permitted to open with other non-essential shops on the 12th of April, while casinos are due to open again with other hospitality venues on the 17th of May.
With the Grand National due to take place on the 10th of April, there have been some calls to allow betting shops to open prematurely, or to delay the Grand National until they are open.
Michael Dugher, chief executive of BGC, said, “It is our hope that the forthcoming Budget will be a springboard to recovery as the country begins to emerge from the Covid-19, unlocking the potential of our high street businesses to return to growth and job creation.”
