Burnage - Chris Harris
A Coral employee in Manchester has spoken about his shop’s importance to the local community, amid speculation that further gambling tax rises could put hundreds of high street betting shops at risk.
Chris Harris, customer service manager at the Burnage branch, says the shop acts as an important social hub for regular customers, particularly older people.
There is speculation that the Treasury is considering further gambling tax rises in the Autumn Budget, including an increase in Machine Games Duty, with industry modelling warning that a significant rise could put betting shops and jobs at risk.
The issue has particular resonance in Greater Manchester, where Andy Burnham previously spoke up for betting shop workers during the Covid restrictions, describing people working “in bookies” as among those “too often forgotten by those in power”.
Harris said: “We have a lot of retired customers that come in here. Without this shop, I don't know what they would do. It's like a community here. They all come in at the same time, wind each other up and have a laugh.
“They trust us. We build a great rapport with them and we build relationships with customers each day. When the racing finishes, they say goodbye, thank us for our service and go home.”
The Burnage branch is just one of around 2,300 Ladbrokes and Coral shops across the UK.
The proposed increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD), which applies to gaming machines in betting shops, could have a major impact on the high street. Modelling commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council from EY estimates that doubling the standard MGD rate to 40% could lead to up to 1,470 betting shop closures and 15,900 job losses across the sector. But, for Harris, it’s more than just a job.
“I like to get in the shop at least one hour early every day, set the shop up, have a coffee, ready for the regular customers coming in the morning.
“When the customers have problems, they come to us. We help them on their phone to find doctors’ appointments and taxis. When they have a problem with the family, they discuss it with us because they trust us.
“Some of the customers live locally. They actually wave to me at the window in the morning. I'm interested in football and horse racing as well. I look after my daughter who lives in Salford. I've got a fiancé and I'm going to be getting married next October.”
And despite worries that the shops invite criminal activities and are unsafe for customers, the reality is often very different.
Harris said: “If they're spending too much, we can tell them to take it easy a bit. We have set closing time for the customers, so it stops their gambling for the day until the next day.
“The customers need this shop because they come out in the mornings, go on the high street, buy a newspaper, pick out the horses, and come in to have a chat with staff that they trust. We need to keep these shops open.”
Entain announced plans to cut around 400 customer care roles this month, following 500 job reductions announced earlier in the year, as it responds to higher gambling taxes and other cost pressures. Chief executive Stella David has warned that further tax rises could put more jobs and shops at risk.