Gambling Act reforms: Rank Group prepares 882 new games for Grosvenor estate

The Rank Group will expedite its land-based services as a result of a government-led review of the 2005 Gambling Act.

Following the internal report, several new statutory instruments shall be integrated into the Gambling Act - with revised rules pertaining to physical gaming machines and sports betting.

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Under previous rules, land-based casinos in England and Wales were limited to tight restrictions on the number of gaming machines per venue. Casino-based sports betting was not permitted. 

However, the government has this week announced that a fresh set of loosened measures shall roll into action this summer. 

Word of this legislative restructuring has been received “very positively” by The Rank Group - whose shares jumped 7% in light of Monday’s news. By virtue of these refreshed regulatory stipulations, the organisation plans to add 882 gaming machines to its existing physical arsenal.

Such a move will significantly increase The Rank Group’s total domestic gaming machine count - with additional physical terminals expected to bolster facilities in Grosvenor Casino venues as and when the brand accrues additional casino licenses. 

According to a release published in the wake of the government’s Gambling Act announcement, The Rank Group plans to boost casino investment and install 3,112 land-based gaming machines within the next three years. 

On its Scottish establishments, Rank explained that it will liaise with government officials to certify that casinos based in Scotland can adequately benefit from the new reforms “at the earliest opportunity.”

John O'Reilly, The Rank Group CEO, lauded the government’s relaxed and redesigned casino restrictions: "The publication of the Statutory Instruments for land-based casino reforms is very good news for Rank. The modernisations will enable us to improve the Grosvenor customer proposition, helping to grow jobs and generating investment in local communities.” 

O’Reilly confirmed that the Rank Group will now hasten investment efforts to effectively avail of these reforms: “We have a detailed roadmap of investments which we will now accelerate as we begin to roll out these reforms over the coming months."

Governmental evaluation of the Gambling Act was overseen by the department for culture, media and sport (DCMS) - and the body has since submitted this proposal to parliament. Should both houses of parliament back the bill, casino operators can expect these new regulations to come into force on 22 July.

In addition to reorganised laws concerning land-based gaming machines, other amendments are included in the proposed reassembly of the Gambling Act. Specifically, these touch on the precise area of a land-based casino venue and the number of gaming machines permitted per establishment based on its respective size. 

Prior to a final parliamentary decision, all legislative draft measures are subject to change.