Betting Shops to Shut in Parts of England and Wales

United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson has announced major changes to COVID-19 restrictions over the Christmas period that will result in betting shops being closed across large parts of Britain.

Betting shops in London, the southeast, and parts of the east of England—as well as those in Wales—will be forced to shut again, while racing will remain behind closed doors for the foreseeable future in those areas after the prime minister announced Dec. 19 that they have entered Tier 4 and will face tougher restrictions over the Christmas period. The new restrictions come into effect from midnight on Saturday.

Areas that were placed into the 'very high' Tier 3 category Dec. 17 will now be placed in a new higher Tier 4 level, which means that all non-essential retail—including betting shops—must close in a bitter blow to the industry just weeks after they reopened at the end of the most recent lockdown between Nov. 5—Dec. 2.

Betting shops will also close in Scotland from Boxing Day (Dec. 26) when Tier 4 restrictions come into effect. 

Johnson said in his briefing that "we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," saying those people in Tier 4 areas must not mix with anyone outside their homes, but added that "support bubbles will remain in place." 

In the briefing, it was reported a steep increase in the proportion of COVID-19 cases linked to a new variant of the virus is strong evidence that it is driving transmission. In London, 28% of cases were as a result of this new mutation in mid-November, but that has now increased to more than 60%.

Racecourses in the affected areas had already moved their fixtures behind closed doors, with Ascot's two-day fixture on Friday and Saturday staged without paying customers, but they now look likely to face a more extended period than first anticipated without spectators after entering the new highest category.

The Jockey Club of the U.K. announced that Kempton's two-day King George VI Chase meeting, which is due to feature stars like Clan Des Obeaux, Cyrname, Epatante, and Altior, will be run behind closed doors while Newbury's fixture Dec. 29 and at Sandown Jan. 2 will also have no spectators.