Rank Group profit forecast surges as slot reforms start
UK 바카라 operator Rank Group has raised its full-year profit forecast, buoyed by strong holiday trading and gearing up to capitalise on landmark regulatory changes starting this month. Rank Group has confirmed it expects to report an underlying operating profit of ?63 million (74.3 million) for the financial year ending 30 June 2025. This is a 35 percent increase over FY2024, driven by an 11 percent rise in like-for-like net gaming revenue to ?795 million (937.1 million).
The statement, filed directly by Rank Group plc but hosted on parent company Guoco’s disclosure platform on the London Stock Exchange, is available . It precedes Rank’s full-year results release on August 14, confirming earlier momentum over the Christmas and New Year period, as featured in a previous SiGMA News article.
July slot reforms could extend Rank Group’s profit forecast trajectory
Crucially, the upgrade comes just as the UK prepares to enact long-awaited 바카라 reforms. Starting 22 July, small 바카라s in the UK can operate up to five gaming machines per table under new reforms, lifting the cap from two.
Rank plans to deploy 882 new machines across its Grosvenor Casino estate, increasing its total to 2,249 units over the next three years. The company has also indicated a potential further increase to 3,112 machines, subject to local licensing and approval of floor space. By expanding its machine estate, Rank aims to sustain its profit forecast trajectory through FY2026 and beyond.
Physical and digital alignment supports long-term growth
CEO John O’Reilly said the company had “sustained momentum across all quarters,” with a strong Q4 offsetting cost inflation, labour pressures, and regulatory headwinds. The company’s share price has reflected this resilience, rising 1.7 percent to 140p (1.65) on the day of the trading update, and nearly doubling year-on-year.
On the digital front, Rank reported a 14 percent rise in online NGR in H1, driven by its revamped Grosvenor and Mecca apps. With enhanced player tracking and customer experience tools, Rank is targeting a compound annual growth rate of 8C12 percent in digital revenue. This physical-digital synergy is a key pillar of the group’s strategy, and a major reason the Rank Group profit forecast is gaining credibility among investors.
Regulatory headwinds remain, but gains outweigh costs
Despite the upgrade, Rank continues to face ongoing regulatory pressure. From April, a 0.5 percent statutory levy on land-based gambling yields came into effect, expected to trim ?4 million (4.7 million) from annual operating expenses.
Online slot stakes have also been capped at ?5 (5.90) for adults and ?2 (2.36) for younger players, while ID verification rules have required operators to apply ‘Think 25’ checks since 30 August 2024. These measures may marginally slow digital NGR, although Rank believes the impact will be offset by gains from machine and sports betting. For more context on the socioeconomic profile of slot engagement and its regulatory implications, see a recent SiGMA News analysis: Why slot machines love poor postcodes.
Under the same reform package, all 바카라s will be allowed to offer on-site sports betting, a new revenue stream that analysts estimate could deliver ?5C10 million (5.9C11.8 million) per venue per year.
Strategic implications of the Rank Group profit forecast
The numbers are strong. That much is clear. But they’re only part of the story. What’s happening underneath, in the way Rank is shifting its focus, is where things get interesting. More machines on the floor. Better digital tools are in play. And a decision to engage with regulation, rather than dodge it. It’s not flashy. But it’s deliberate.
With the Rank Group profit forecast now firmly upgraded, and digital growth reinforcing land-based strategy, Rank enters FY2026 in its strongest position since before the pandemic. Preliminary results next month will reveal how much of that growth is locked in and how fast the benefits of reform begin to flow.
