Business booming for Maidenhead-HQd company amid gambling law changes

Business is booming for a major international gambling and entertainment group headquartered in Maidenhead.

The Rank Group Plc – based out of the TOR office block in Saint-Cloud Way – owns the Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo brands.

Rank is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is one of the 250 biggest companies outside the top 100, so it sits in the FTSE 250 index.

Grosvenor is the UK’s largest casino chain with 50 venues and Mecca runs 50 bingo clubs across the UK. Rank Group also runs online casino, bingo, slots and sports betting platforms.

According to its 2025 annual report, Rank Group has seen a strong set of results from the past year and looks to capitalise on new Government gambling reforms.

Profits and shares

The group reported like-for-like net gaming revenue up 11 per cent to £795.3million in the year to June.

The money Rank Group made from running the business (before interest and tax) more than doubled to £67million, while pre-tax profit rose 248 per cent to £53.9million.

For every share someone owns in Rank, they’ll get 2.6 pence in cash as a payout, more than triple last year’s payout.

The company said investment in its Grosvenor venues and digital platforms had paid off, with Grosvenor revenues up 14 per cent and UK digital income up 12 per cent.

Mecca Bingo grew five per cent, although customer numbers were broadly flat – suggesting existing customers spent more.

Chief executive John O’Reilly said Rank expects to make at least £100million a year in profit from its day-to-day operations within the next few years.

Scaling up after gambling reforms

Rank is also preparing to roll out more gaming machines and introduce sports betting across its casinos following reforms under the Gambling Act Review.

These reforms came into force in July this year and include raising the cap of gaming machines in casinos from 20 up to 80, with some conditions.

This is relative to the number of gaming tables. For every one table game (eg blackjack or roulette), casinos are now allowed up to five machines.

Rank Group plans to add about 800 machines across its venues by Christmas 2025, and more in later phases.

There are other significant changes in the July reforms – for example all casinos can now offer in-house sports betting.

Rank will roll this out in 38 of its Grosvenor venues, setting up more than 350 self-service betting terminals.

Other reform changes include lifting the ban on debit card use on gaming machines to reflect the shift away from cash.

These new reforms are a ‘landmark development’ for Rank Group, it says.

Mr O’Reilly said the changes, combined with ongoing upgrades to venues and technology, would help the company meet customer demand and improve their experience.

The group also highlighted its progress in sustainability and charitable endeavours, cutting carbon emissions by 25 per cent and raising more than £400,000 for charity during the year.