The UK casinos have been closed since the lockdown on March 23 but the government last month confirmed that hospitality and leisure facilities ,such as casinos, could reopen from 4th July. Adding to the delight of gaming lovers, the UK’s Betting and Gambling Council (BGC) recently announced the reopening of 148 casinos in the country after a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 spread.
Meanwhile, the situation looks a little topsy-turvy as the COVID-19 has claimed a major victim in the UK poker world and Genting Casinos have decided to cease all live poker operations in the UK.
One of Genting employees said, “Genting will cease all live poker in their casinos.” The company is furloughing about 98 employees with 20 to 50 jobs lost at each of Genting’s casino in the country.
According to the reports, Genting casinos have wrapped up their poker operations in totality, thus putting to an end to in-casino poker games as well as the long running Genting Poker Series (GPS).
This year in January, Genting announced its tour stops, the Genting Poker Series, a hugely popular series with affordable buy-ins that has been running for 12 years. The series was about to feature 16 stops across the UK and 12 of its poker events had a buy-in of £225 and £35,000 in GTD prizepools.
A cardroom Manager at one of Genting‘s casinos took to Facebook to post an update.“Well, it’s been emotional. Thank you to all our poker players, hope you have a great experience. Thoughts to all my colleagues (family) that didn’t deserve this (although in current climate it was kind of expected) you are all superstars and proud to have had you in our team. Onwards and Upwards. PS anyone hiring?”
The President and COO of Genting UK, Paul Willcock, sent a statement to his employees which read, “The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges. It has had a huge financial impact on our business and caused significant uncertainty for the foreseeable future. I am therefore forced to contemplate some very difficult options to ensure survival.”