A GAMBLING mogul has called for bingo halls and casinos to be allowed to stay open under the new system of Covid rules.

John O’Reilly, the owner of Mecca bingo and the Grosvenor casino said that forcing his venues to close if an area went into level two or above was “anything but evidence-based” and that bingo halls and casinos were being “singled out”, while restaurants, bars, amusement arcades and cinemas were allowed to open. 

In a letter to the First Minister, the CEO set out his arguments for keeping bingo halls and casinos open, noting that there had been “no Covid outbreaks” linked to any Mecca clubs. 

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He outlined his firms’ hygiene, social distancing and track and trace procedures. 

The letter said: “We have done everything asked of us only to be on the receiving end of a hammer-blow which will do nothing to suppress the virus but will take the bingo industry to the brink of failure.

“Bingo is part of the fabric of Scottish culture. For hundreds of thousands of bingo players, the bingo club is a lifeline that allows them to avoid social isolation, maintain social contact and supports their mental health.”

A Scottish government spokesman said: “Many businesses will want to argue that different types of premises should be open at different levels.

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“While it is unlikely we will be able to accommodate every request while still suppressing the virus, we are listening to and carefully considering the representations made to us on the content of the levels. That process is ongoing.”

In Glasgow, bingo halls and casinos have been closed since October 10.