Rank Group reports 5% rise in first-quarter revenue
Rank Group said like-for-like net gaming revenue grew across its digital and venues businesses in the first quarter of its 2026/27 financial year, with the chief executive warning against any increase to Machine Games Duty.
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Rank Group said on 15 October 2026 that Group like-for-like net gaming revenue for the first quarter, covering the period from 1 July to 30 September 2026, grew 5% to £216.1m.
The company said digital like-for-like net gaming revenue rose 6%, while venues like-for-like net gaming revenue increased 5%.
Rank said digital growth was driven by a 6% rise in its UK business, which it said reflected strong performance from its core customer base, notably the Mecca brand online, which it said grew 7%. The company said its UK digital business continued to demonstrate resilient customer metrics despite the higher tax regime introduced in April 2026 and reduced above-the-line marketing spend. It said international digital net gaming revenue grew 4%.
Grosvenor venues like-for-like net gaming revenue grew 6%, with Rank reporting a 1% increase in visits and a 5% increase in spend per visit. At a product level, the company said gaming machines revenue grew 14%, table gaming revenue grew 3% and electronic gaming grew 5%. Rank said it closed three venues, in Swansea, Reading Central and Sunderland, during the quarter, which it said were no longer economically viable in the medium term.
Mecca venues like-for-like net gaming revenue growth was flat, with customer visits down 3% and spend per visit up 3%. Rank said a prolonged period of hot weather in the UK was a significant contributor to the softness in customer visits to Mecca venues.
Enracha venues continued to perform well, with like-for-like net gaming revenue growth of 7%, driven by 11% growth in electronic gaming, the company said.
Rank said it had made a strong start to the new financial year and, based on the current industry tax regime in the UK, was confident of delivering Group like-for-like operating profit in line with market expectations for the current year.
Chief executive Richard Harris said: “Speculation regarding the upcoming Budget continues to weigh heavily on investor sentiment, but our message has been clear: any increase to Machine Games Duty will increase costs, reduce venue viability, lead to venue closures and job losses, reduce tax receipts and halt investment.”
Rank said it will announce its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2026 on 28 January 2027.