UK’s Rank Group eyes expansion as casino machine reforms advance

Rank Group said it plans to expand its fleet of gaming machines by nearly two-thirds across its Grosvenor Casino estate, following a move by the UK government to ease restrictions on land-based gambling operations.

Under reforms to the Gambling Act 2005, casinos in England and Wales will be allowed to operate five gaming machines per table, up from two. The statutory cap of 80 machines per venue will remain. The new rules, published in draft form by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on May 12, are set to take effect on July 22.

The changes will allow Rank, which currently operates 1,367 machines across 51 casinos, to add as many as 882 more, bringing its total to 2,249 over the next two to three years, pending regulatory approval.

“This is an opportunity to enhance customer experience while supporting employment and local investment,” said Rank Group CEO John O’Reilly, adding that the company intends to accelerate its investment roadmap in light of the policy shift.

Shares in Rank rose nearly 8% following the announcement, buoyed by expectations of long-term growth. The company reported a 10.9% rise in year-on-year net gaming revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, aided by consistent demand and continued digital investment.

The regulatory overhaul also permits casinos to offer on-site sports betting for the first time in England and Wales. Rank confirmed it is in talks with Scottish authorities to explore similar changes at its venues in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

In tandem with the reforms, new safeguards are being introduced. From August 30, the threshold for mandatory ID checks will rise from age 21 to 25, and all licensees will be required to conduct test purchases to prevent underage access.

Additionally, a new statutory levy will impose a 0.5% tax on land-based operators’ gross gambling yield and up to 1.1% on online operators. The levy, expected to raise £100 million ($135.63 million) annually, will fund research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm.

Rank’s expansion plans come as part of a broader government effort to modernise the regulatory framework for bricks-and-mortar gambling operators and bring them in line with digital standards, amid an evolving and increasingly competitive industry landscape.