Furious Bookies Forced To Work On Good Friday
17th March, 2008
Gordon Robertson, a manager from a Betfred shop in Barry is furious about being forced to open on Good Friday this year. He says “We’ve had extended hours. We’ve had racing on Sundays. And now betting shops are opening on Good Friday this year for the first time. Where do you draw the line?” He also feels it won’t be long until we have racing on Christmas Day.
Despite the fact Mr Robertson is not a religious person he believes that people should not be forced to work every day of the year. Looking back at the introduction of Sunday trading many find it hard to believe that so little fuss has been made over this issue.
Many simply do not see a problem with it including some of the clergy. Reverend Kimber of Hayes said “In a society as secular and as free as ours, I don’t see what the problem is”, a view shared by most bookmakers. William Hill are opening 2,000 of its 2,350 stores and have stated that they “don’t see it as different to other days”. Ladbrokes are opening as usual but have said any staff who had a religious objection could take the day off but felt that was unlikely to happen due to the fact that they are open Sundays anyway.
Many, especially the Archbishop of Wales, do still stand with Mr Robertson, in the fact that they should not open. The Archbishop, Dr Morgan, has said that he is concerned that a traditional holy day is being ignored and about its impact on problem gamblers.
UK gambling has become a massive industry and is continuing to grow. Christmas Day is now the only day of the year when Betting Shops are closed.
