UK-based operator Rank Group's casino arm, Grosvenor Casinos, reported significant third-quarter growth despite the tough economic climate.

The group announced seven per cent like-for-like growth for the third quarter to October 3, driven, it said, by improvements across the whole business.

Grosvenor Casinos delivered nine per cent like-for-like revenue growth, with customer visits up six per cent and spend per visit increasing three per cent. Like-for-like revenue for the year to date is up six per cent, with total revenue estimated to have increased 10 per cent.

Rank opened an electronic casino in Scarborough in September and is planning a similar property in Liverpool in December. It is also forging ahead with plans to convert its Grosvenor Casinos in Walsall, Birmingham and Plymouth to its G Casino line, with the newly re-branded properties due to be launched in the first quarter of next year.

At the end of August, the company closed its loss-making casino in Hove at a cost of approximately £1.1m this year but with an expected net benefit to operating profit in 2011 of around £500,000.

"The board is encouraged by the sustained performance improvements achieved by each of Rank’s businesses during the period and expects full-year performance to be around the top end of analysts’ forecasts," Rank said in a statement. "While the consumer environment is likely to remain challenging for some time to come, the group is in a strong financial position."