Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the evidential basis is for the decision not to reopen casinos as part of the next phase of easing the covid-19 lockdown restrictions; and what criteria was used to differentiate casinos from bingo halls in that decision.

As a close proximity venue, with live table games involving handling of chips and cards, casinos are among the group of businesses which are not yet permitted to open. My officials will continue to work with the casino sector to ensure they can safely open as soon as possible.