Rank enjoys strong start to year

22nd Apr 2010 08:07

Casino and bingo hall operator Rank said it has made an 'encouraging' start to 2010, with like-for-like sales climbing by 4% in the 16 weeks to April 18.Grosvenor Casinos saw like-for-like sales rise by 9%. Sales at Rank's Spanish bingo division Top Rank Espana sales climbed by 3%, but they were down by 2% at Mecca Bingo, which operates in the UK, after cold weather in January kept players at home.Rank Interactive, a provider of betting websites including bluesq.com, saw sales climb by 8%. 'The board remains confident in the full-year prospects for the group and in its longer term growth strategy,' Rank said said.