The Rank Group is to add over 850 gaming machines to its English land-based casino portfolio after the publication of secondary legislation allowing the expansion of gaming areas.
The legislation, set to come into force on July 22, will allow casino operators to house up to 80 Category B, C or D machines at venues based on certain criteria.
Rank said the installation of 882 extra gaming machines at its Grosvenor Casinos sites in England will take place over the “coming months,” and will be subject to completion of various applications for its casino licences.
Rank said it currently has 1,367 gaming machines at its England-based Grosvenor Casinos. It said the total opportunity within its current estate is 3,112 machines, which would require investment the operator would look to “gradually complete” over the next two to three years.
John O'Reilly, chief executive of The Rank Group, said: “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.
We have a detailed roadmap of investments which we will now accelerate as we begin to roll out these reforms over the coming months."
Rank said it will keep in touch with government officials in Scotland about similar changes in the country, which it hopes can take place “at the earliest opportunity.”
