Rank Group announces improved results

The Rank Group seems to think that it has overcome the difficulties posed by the smoking ban and a very severe winter and has reported increased sales in the last 16 weeks compared to 12 months ago in what it describes as an “encouraging” start to the year. Citing the Grosvenor casinos division as being a major contributor with increased footfall in its G Casino format. The G casino format tries to make a casino visit more attractive by offering non gaming activities such as bars and restaurants Currently Rank has over 30 casinos of which it is targeting to have 20 in G format by 2012 with the next two being in Brighton and Newcastle upon Tyne. Rank Group also operates more than 100 Mecca Bingo halls but the results in that division were not so good with sales on a like for like basis being 2% down. We have previously reported the difficulties that Bingo halls are having competing with online casinos. Rank itself also operates a small online casino business called Blue Square. Mecca is also trying to turn its fortunes around by trying to attract a younger generation bu offering bars and restaurants on the premises.

Rank was one of main protagonists in the scrap against the Government to reduce Bingo duty and is still trying to have a review of all betting and gaming taxation.