Redundancy is rife in the UK amusement and gaming industry, says BACTA's latest survey, as new measures curbing opening hours for pubs come into force.
The pandemic-impacted business in arcades and in pub machine operations has been so badly hit that nearly one-third of the work force has lost their jobs or have the imminent risk of losing their jobs hanging over them, according the UK's trade association for the industry.
BACTA CEO john White this week said that the fresh restrictions announced yesterday – pubs having to close at 10pm – had only exacerbated the effects.
He said that the survey results were calculated across the entire association and its worst-hit Division 2, suppliers of machines to pubs and clubs, whose business were directed affected by pub closures and yet received no support from the government’s Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
The statistics were from the whole four divisions of BACTA, covering seaside arcades (30 per cent), suppliers (32 per cent), adult gaming centres (26 per cent) and manufacturers (27 per cent).
“In some cases, members were saying that any further impacts on business will mean that they will have to close, making the announcement (on September 22) even more deeply concerning.”
Fresh restrictions on operating machines were announced this week by all three British countries by their respective parliaments.
In England, from tomorrow, pubs, bars and restaurants can only offer table service and must close by 10pm. All staff and customers must wear fast masks except to eat and drink. Increased fines are being brought in to ensure compliance. The regulation will be in existence for at least six months.
In Scotland hospitality must close by 10pm from Friday and there are restrictions on the numbers who can meet from different households. The six-month period may be relaxed earlier.
In Wales the 10pm closing deadline in pubs is being "considered" as is the table service-only option. But the Welsh government is also considering whether pubs should be allowed to open at all if they don’t serve food. Local lockdowns are imposed on four Welsh areas this week.
Pubs are a major source of AWP operating in the United Kingdom.
