Rank Group forecasts stronger-than-expected annual results
The company anticipates underlying operating profit of at least £76m despite a £5m regulatory settlement with the British Gambling Commission.
UK.- Rank Group Plc has reported that it expects its full-year financial results to come in ahead of market forecasts. For the year ending June 30, the company anticipates underlying operating profit of at least £76m despite a £5m regulatory settlement with the British Gambling Commission. That’s partly due to job cuts
While preliminary results for 2025/26 won’t be published until August 13, Rank has forecast that groupnet gaming revenue (NGR) will be up by six per cent year-on-year to £834.1m. Digital operations were the biggest growth driver, with full-year NGR estimated to be up eight per cent to £248.5m despite the hit from the rise in Remote Gaming Duty in the last quarter.
Meanwhile, Grosvenor Casinos remains the biggest contributor, with NGR forecast at £397.3m, a five per cent increase. Mecca Bingo venues are believed to have generated £143m, up 4 per cent, and Enracha venues in Spain £45.3m, a rise of seven per cent. The Spanish business was impacted by a €7.1m payment fraud in December 2025, which Rank reported to law enforcement and investigated with external legal support.
Gaming machine revenues at Grosvenor venues rose 12 per cent in Q4, following 10 per cent growth in Q3. The uplift was supported by optimisation initiatives and the addition of 850 new terminals in the first half of the year, representing a 60 per cent increase in machine numbers after UK legislation expanded casino allowances.
Performance at both Mecca and Enracha was described as “in line with expectations,” with operating costs tightly managed across all units. The company noted that across the board “the decision to protect performance marketing and customer incentives, whilst making significant savings in above the line marketing spend, supplier costs and headcount reductions, has helped to secure strong revenue performance and robust profit delivery in Q4”.
Gambling Commission regulatory settlement
Rank also confirmed that it will include a £5m provision in its 2025/26 accounts linked to a proposed settlement with the Gambling Commission concerning Grosvenor Casinos’ licence between November 2024 and May 2025. It said remedial measures had been “substantially implemented” and emphasised constructive engagement with the regulator.
Richard Harris, who was earlier this week confirmed as permanent CEO after an interim stint, commented: “Our expected profit outturn for the year reflects the progress we have made in executing our plan for growth, despite the significant cost and taxation headwinds that we have incurred during the year.”
