Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, during a Facebook Live session on Monday likened casinos to nightclubs in risk profile for the spreading of coronavirus.
Industry Standards Body, the Betting and Gaming Council, strongly contests this assertion and has called on the First Minister and members of Public Health Wales to visit a local casino to see the Covid-safe measures in place.
In a letter submitted today, the BGC Chief Executive, Michael Dugher, noted his strong disagreement with the comparison calling it “neither true, nor fair” and highlighted the impact that the uncertainty was having on the c. 300 staff employed across the four casinos in Wales.
Commenting, Dugher said that “Casinos are not remotely like nightclubs and have invested heavily to ensure that our venues are safe for both our colleagues and customers alike”.
“Ensuring the safety of our staff and customers is paramount, and the extensive work undertaken by the sector to ensure that casinos are ready to re-open safely shows this”.
“Our members have worked closely with public health bodies and been reassured that the measures in place, such as Perspex screens, sanitisation equipment, and sophisticated track and trace systems, as well as strong social distancing measures are excellent”.
“The four casinos operating in Wales are ready and eager to re-open safely to the public and to play their part in re-building the economy”, he said.
