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The Rank Group, one of the leading gambling operators in the UK, has expressed its enthusiasm for the British government’s comprehensive review of gambling regulation, describing it as a “once in a generation opportunity.” The review, which aims to assess and update the existing regulations governing the gambling industry, has been met with positive reception by Rank’s CEO, John O’Reilly.

Rank Group’s CEO highlighted that 51 out of the company’s 52 Grosvenor casinos operate under the 1968 Gambling Act, restricting them to only 20 gaming machines, while casinos under the newer 2005 act are allowed up to 80 machines. With the government’s focus on revisiting gambling regulations, Rank sees an ideal chance to modernize and optimize legislation for the land-based casino sector.

While the primary focus of the review is on online gambling regulations, Rank Group emphasizes that it also presents an opportunity to consider the positive outcomes of regulations introduced by the 2005 Act and implement new measures relevant to today’s consumers.

In its submission to the government’s Call for Evidence earlier this year, Rank Group also advocated for the introduction of electronic table games based on random number generation, offering customers a broader selection of lower stakes table games.

Despite facing challenges due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality sector, Rank Group’s UK casinos and bingo halls have shown encouraging signs of recovery since reopening in mid-May. The company remains optimistic about its future prospects, backed by adequate liquidity measures, including raising £70 million through new equity and divesting a Belgian casino for £25.2 million.

The British government’s review of gambling regulation comes at a critical juncture for the industry, and the Rank Group looks forward to actively participating in the process, contributing its insights and expertise to shape a regulatory framework that fosters a thriving and responsible gambling environment in the UK.

Rank Group CEO John O’Reilly sees the British government’s review of gambling regulation as a rare and crucial opportunity for the land-based casino sector in the UK. The Rank Group, which operates 51 out of its 52 Grosvenor casinos under the 1968 Gambling Act, emphasized the need for a modernized approach to regulations, considering that casinos licensed under the older act are limited to just 20 gaming machines compared to 80 for venues under the 2005 act.

While the primary focus of the review is on online regulation

Rank Group believes it is equally vital to incorporate positive learnings from the 2005 Act regulations and introduce new developments suitable for the present-day consumer. In their submission to the government’s Call for Evidence, Rank also called for permission to offer electronic table games based on random number generation, expanding the range of lower stakes table games available to customers.

Regarding the recent reopening of their UK casinos and bingo halls in mid-May, Rank Group reported “encouraging progress,” despite challenges posed by a lack of tourists visiting London, which particularly impacted their nine London casinos. Despite a challenging 2020/21 financial year, Rank Group has taken measures to maintain liquidity, including raising £70 million of new equity and selling a Belgian casino for £25.2 million. The company also received a £13.3 million duty rebate from Revenue and Customs and expects to collect £80 million from a VAT claim, provided there are no appeals. Overall, Rank Group is optimistic about the opportunities and potential advancements in the land-based casino sector that could arise from the ongoing regulatory review.

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