We are all aware of the measures taken in the UK and abroad, as governments decided to restrict the number of spectators in sports stadiums and music venues. This quickly escalated into a complete suspension as authorities took the appropriate measures to protect the public.
But gig-goers and sports fans can now see some light at the end of the tunnel. For example, the UK Government has announced that it will be trailing pilot testing by allowing some lucky fans to return to stadiums in April, with the hope that as many as 10,000 fans can attend a stadium at once by 17 May.
This will be music to the ears of sports fans and sports betting businesses that have relied solely on online gaming over the last year. UK Gaming and bookmaker group Entain has been fortunate enough to lean on its popular Party Casino, but with its more traditional sports betting business back in stadia, it will enable the group to expand its reach. It looks like everyone will win once stadiums reopen – even if your team loses on the field.
What Will the Exact Restrictions Be?
As long as trial periods go well during April, UK cricket fans should expect to attend cricket games once more. Outdoor seated venues will allow a maximum of 10,000 fans into the stadium or 25% of the stadium’s total capacity – whichever is lower. This will mean that the majority of professional cricket, golf and tennis events should be able to go ahead with near-normal numbers of spectators. Premier League football matches will still be well below typical capacities.
Just over one month later, on 21 June, the UK expects to lift all social restrictions and resume a normal life. This would mean that all stadium use should return to normal with full capacities available. However, both of these dates rely on the vaccination programme’s continued success.
How This Will Support Bookmakers
It has been a challenging year for sports bookmakers. Large betting groups have been able to use online casinos sites to support the industry, while sports betting remains limited. Some brands have even used the time to expand their online services and reach.
There are, however, other bookmakers that do not operate online casinos and rely on sports betting alone. They’ve had to find different ways to stay operational, such as enabling eSports betting where punters can bet on the outcome of video game matches. Fortunately, it won’t be long before they can recover their market and expand back into sports stadiums.