THE vast majority of Ireland’s 814 betting shops will reopen on Monday for the first time since March and, in doing so, will indirectly generate funds for Irish racing and the exchequer through media rights and betting tax.

Sharon Byrne of the Irish Bookmakers Association reported: “A small number of shops opened this week but the vast majority are waiting for Monday. We [the IBA] created a standard operating procedure document for shop owners and we ran two online training courses for staff and compliance officers.”

Under Government orders, betting shops are allowed open from 10.30am and Byrne says that the first hour is reserved for older customers who will be given priority at all times during the day in most shops.

SIS, the company which owns the media rights for Irish racing and supplies betting shops with live pictures, will be providing a full service from Monday and it will include messaging which will encourage customers not to remain in the shop any longer than necessary. Other signage will recommend customers keep or dispose of the pen they used to write out their bet.

“Each shop will have a maximum number of people permitted inside at any one time,” Byrne explained. “I know a lot of shops are removing furniture so that people are not encouraged to stay. They should put on their bet and leave, unless there is nobody else in the shop. The main message to customers is to put your bets on early as there will be crowding allowed at the tills.”

Byrne is predicting a 50% drop in turnover while social distancing remains part of daily life. “That is the figure being quoted by other retail outlets and we expect the same. A lot of shops will be unviable under these conditions but I believe the vast majority are going to open anyway. Further down the line, the issue of rent is a ticking time-bomb.”