Rank Group has reported a 5% increase in NGR for Q1 2026-27 as bosses championed “resilient customer metrics” despite the new tax environment in the UK.
NGR for the three months ending 30 September hit £216.1m, with the lion’s share coming from Grosvenor venues (£108.1m).
The Maidenhead-based operator said digital NGR was £64.9m, or a 6% year-on-year increase.
Mecca venues reported flat NGR at £32.2m, while the group’s Spanish land-based business, Enracha, noted a 7% jump to £10.9m.
On the digital front, management said there had been a “strong performance from our core customer base”, including a 7% NGR increase for Mecca alone.
Rank’s fiscal Q1 marked its first full quarter in which it was subject to the 40% remote gaming duty, which came into effect from 1 April.
“The UK business continues to demonstrate resilient customer metrics despite the higher tax regime introduced in April 2026 and reduced above-the-line marketing spend,” the firm noted.
“Our focus on the customer proposition and overall marketing spend balance remains a priority as the wider digital landscape continues to reset.”
Rank has also warned any increase to machine games duty from its current 20% rate would lead to venue closures and job losses across the country.
The Autumn Budget, scheduled for 28 October, could include a hike in the tax paid on Category B machines found in casinos and bingo venues.
Group CEO Richard Harris had previously warned that around 30% of Rank’s UK workforce – or 2,000 employees – would be affected if calls for the duty to double to 40% became a reality.
On the land-based side of the business, Grosvenor venues also saw a 5% increase in spend per visit.
However, three premises – Swansea, Reading and Sunderland – closed as they were deemed “no longer economically viable in the medium term”.
On Mecca, bosses said the flat NGR reflected that customer visits were down 3%, which was blamed on the “prolonged period of hot weather in the UK”. Spend per visit rose by 3%, however.
The London-listed company has not provided any figures in its outlook for the remainder of the 2026-27 financial year.
Instead, bosses wrote: “The group has made a strong start to the new financial year and, based on the current industry tax regime in the UK, is confident of delivering group like-for-like operating profit in line with market expectations for the current year.”
Harris said: “I am pleased with the revenue growth we have seen in the first quarter, particularly the progress we continue to make in terms of gaming machine performance in Grosvenor and the resilience of our UK digital business.”
However, the former CFO said speculation around the contents of the upcoming Budget continued to “weigh heavily on investor sentiment”.
He added: “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.
“HM Treasury recognised these economic arguments last year and, with the right conditions, we believe our casinos and bingo clubs can play an important role in the government’s growth agenda.”
Rank Group will publish its H1 2026-27 earnings on 28 January 2027.
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Richard Harris suggests any machine games duty hike will lead to venue closures and job losses, as operator also posts uplift in digital performance
The post Rank NGR rises 5% as CEO says sector can play a role in “government’s growth agenda” first appeared on EGR Intel.