Ladbrokes and Coral prepare to get back to business on 15 June in major boost to racing after Boris Johnson’s announcement
GVC, the parent company of the Ladbrokes and Coral betting shop chains, said on Monday evening that it is “well prepared” to open at least some of its outlets on 15 June, the day before Royal Ascot is expected to start behind closed doors. The openings are dependent on the government classifying high-street betting shops as supplying a “non-essential” product rather than as part of the hospitality industry, which is not expected to reopen until July.
Betting shops had previously been expected to reopen no earlier than 4 July, at the start of the third phase of the government’s steady unwinding of the lockdown. However, following an announcement by
Boris Johnson, the prime minister, on Monday evening that all “non-essential” shops can reopen from 15 June, it now seems that the retail betting industry may be back in business just 24 hours before one of the biggest meetings of the year.