First past post as law eases

Mar 22 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

BOOKMAKERS in the North East reported steady business yesterday as they were allowed to open on Good Friday for the first time.

Under the 2005 Gambling Act, which came into force last September, betting shops can now open every day except Christmas Day.

The move has been criticised by Christian and anti-gambling groups, but that didn’t put off some gamblers in the region.

Ladbrokes in Newcastle’s Bigg Market was one of the shops to open yesterday and staff said there had been a stream of customers throughout the day. A spokesman said: “There’s been a steady flow of people, which we’re pleased about because there is no UK horseracing today.

“People are still betting however, mostly on the dogs or international horse racing events in Germany and South Africa.”

Ladbrokes was also tempting passing trade with special offers on any bets placed yesterday on today’s football matches.

The spokesman said: “Another branch of ours opened on Christmas Eve for the first time last year and it was really busy all day. The controversy over opening today means we are getting free publicity and I just think ‘each to their own’.

“It would be just as easy to place a bet on a Good Friday even if we weren’t open because of the internet, and I don’t really see the difference.” A spokeswoman for the Methodist Church of Great Britain said: “We fail to see the benefit to the wider community of betting shops being open.

“There are a third of a million problem gamblers in the UK currently and that doesn’t even take into account the wider impact that has on their family and friends. Some people feel gambling is a harmless bit of fun, but it can cause devastation. It is also ironic that when Jesus was crucified, the guards took lots for his clothing, essentially gambling away.

“We just want to encourage people to think a little more and spend time making today a special day rather than going about their day to day business as usual.”

Almost all Ladbrokes and Coral’s betting shops in England, Scotland and Wales opened yesterday. Nationally, Ladbrokes saw levels of business near that of a normal weekday, and confirmed it would open on Good Friday next year.

A Coral spokesman said: “It’s been very busy in the shops, far more so than we expected. It’s been a very successful day and it’s justified our decision to open. Good Friday opening is here to stay.”

William Hill, which opened about 10% of branches, also said shops had been busier than expected.