The Japanese Racing Association (JRA) has eased restrictions at several of its off-track betting (OTB) locations, enabling facilities to accept bets on a bigger range of races from Saturday, 26th September 2020.
Following a period of closure forced by the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, JRA’s OTB network began to reopen in July 2020 with limited operations at the sites.
Despite the fact that a number of locations have been permitted to reopen, certain restrictions have stayed in place as the JRA endeavour to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including only allowing punters to wager on certain races.
As from Saturday, 26th September 2020, JRA’s Park Wins, Wins and J-Place OTB facilities in the Kanto, Kansai and Tokai areas will be allowed to accept bets on races 9 to 12 at all racecourses, as well as races open to prior-day wagers.
The JRA has also announced that certain operations will resume at its Excel Hamamatsu and Excel Hakata from 26th September, as well as at the Wins Urawa and J-Place Kanazawa locations the next day.
The sites will be operating with rigid methods, and must close by 2 pm each day, not show live race footage or display odds information.
High –touch surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected frequently, with plexi-glass barriers and vinyl curtains installed at certain points.
JRA staff must have their temperature taken and record their physical condition and disinfect there hands prior to starting work and must wear masks, gloves and face shields while at work.
Customers’ temperatures must be taken upon entry and people that have traveled to a region or country with high rising infection rates will be refused entry.
