Rank Group NGR rises 5% to £835m as profit after tax falls 23%

Rank Group has reported FY26 net gaming revenue of £835m ($1.13bn), up 5% year-on-year, while statutory profit after tax declined 23% to £29.9m as separately disclosed items weighed on its bottom line.

Like-for-like NGR reached £834.1m, up 6%, marking a fifth consecutive year of growth across all of Rank Group's businesses. Underlying EBITDA increased 15% to £138.3m, while underlying operating profit rose 21% to £78.6m.

The difference between underlying and statutory performance included £22.9m in separately disclosed items. 

These included a £6.5m loss related to a payment fraud incident in Rank Group's Spanish business and a £5m provision for a proposed regulatory settlement with the Gambling Commission concerning historical compliance failings at Grosvenor Casinos.

Grosvenor venues generated £397.3m in like-for-like NGR, up 5%. Gaming machine NGR increased 11% following the rollout of 850 additional machines during the year, while table gaming was flat, with Rank Group stating that performance was affected by the conflict in the Middle East. 

Digital like-for-like NGR increased 8% to £248.5m, including 12% growth during Q4. Rank Group reduced above-the-line marketing expenditure alongside supplier and employment costs as it responded to the increase in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40%. 

The higher rate took effect on 1 April 2026, when the UK Government also abolished Bingo Duty, creating different tax effects across Rank Group's digital and land-based operations.

Mecca venues recorded 4% like-for-like NGR growth, while underlying operating profit more than doubled to £8.9m. The abolition of Bingo Duty provided a £1.6m benefit during Q4, with Rank Group expecting an annualised benefit of approximately £6.4m in FY27.

Rank Group expects digital profitability to decline in FY27 as the 40% Remote Gaming Duty applies across a full financial year. However, it maintained its medium-term target of at least £100m in underlying operating profit. 

Group NGR increased 8% during the first six weeks of FY27, including 10% digital revenue growth and a 15% increase in Grosvenor gaming machine revenue.

In July, Rank Group raised its FY26 underlying operating profit forecast to at least £76m after reporting preliminary like-for-like NGR of approximately £834.1m. The update also disclosed the £5m provision for a proposed Gambling Commission settlement concerning historical compliance failings at Grosvenor Casinos. The final results put underlying operating profit at £78.6m, above that forecast.