Betting shops reopen across England and Wales this Monday

Around 6,000 bookies will get back to business today for the first time since December alongside other non-essential retail as the Government continues to ease the Covid lockdown.

However, a number of restrictions will be in place in English shops to limit the amount of customers in them at any one time.

There will be no live sports pictures, no chairs and a maximum of two gaming machines allowed to be switched on when betting shops open on Monday, while customers will be limited to a maximum of two visits per day and shops will close at 8pm.

The number of customers allowed in a shop will depend on its size up to a maximum of eight and there will also be a limit on the time they are able to stay in a shop.

BGC boss says re-opening of betting shops "great news for staff, punters and UK economy"

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “It’s great news that high street betting shops in England and Wales are finally able to re-open safely, along with the rest of non-essential retail. It’s been a long three months for betting shop staff, as well as their customers, and I know they are all looking forward to safely getting back to business thanks to the best-in-class anti-Covid measures in place.

“As the recent EY report showed, the UK’s betting shops support 46,000 jobs and paid nearly £1bn in tax to the Treasury in 2020, while our members contribute £350m to horseracing through sponsorship, media rights and the betting levy.

“This means that as well as providing a much-needed boost for the millions of people who enjoy a flutter, they will also be able to play a key role in the UK’s post-Covid economic recovery.”