New DCMS Survey Reveals Divisions in Response to COVID-19 Support

A recent survey carried out by the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has revealed divisions in the way UK gambling firms responded to recent restrictions on coronavirus, with two-thirds of respondents failing to access government support.

The survey named “The Coronavirus Impact Business Survey” showed that 19 betting companies had earned government financial support while 39 had not earned it. The specific details of those surveyed were not disclosed, but it is likely that a large majority of respondents are land-based betting firms.

Of those surveyed, 20 operators had not signed into the furlough scheme of government. Three gaming firms had furloughed between 50% and 74% of the employees and 32 had furloughed between 75% and 100%.

Thirty gambling firms have announced that since the lockout they have taken a 100% revenue hit, in direct contrast to only two that have seen sales rise or stay the same. Fourteen of the gambling firms surveyed saw revenue fall between 50% and 99%, while eight firms recorded revenue declines between 1% and 49%.

Nine betting firms claimed they will continue trading for 1-3 months without any government financial backing. Twenty bookmakers believed they could continue to trade with additional funding for 3-6 months, while a further twenty believed they could trade for more than six months. About five were unsure as to how long they could go on running, while two had shut their doors already.