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Mecca Bingo Owner Rank Group Attempts to Turn Things Around

July 9th, 2009

Mecca Bingo and Rank Group
The bingo industry is abuzz with speculation regarding fortunes of gaming major Rank Group, which owns and operates the reputed Mecca Bingo chain of bingo halls and the Grosvenor Casinos. The Rank Group has been in a downward spiral for the past couple of years or so-the smoking ban last year, the ceiling limit on the number of money-spinning slot machines that can be put in and the recently introduced hike in bingo taxes, all compounded by recession in the economy, have all but badly wounded the group. The ground situation is so grim that over the last three years, more than 16 bingo clubs had to shut down due to unprofitability and eight more are bleeding the group dry. But all circumstances notwithstanding, the CEO for the group, Ian Burke, seems more than optimistic of a possible turn around in the fortunes of the ailing bingo giant.

Mr. Burke, former chief of Liverpool, took over the reigns of business at Rank a little over three years ago. Business has been less than ideal under him but on the cards are some radical plans to revive business. Mr. Burke propounds a major attitudinal shift in how the business is run; he wants to introduce leisure opportunities into bingo to increase per-head consumer spending at the hall. The recently opened Mecca hall in Beeston, serves a case in point. This bingo hall has been devised along the lines of a hybrid entertainment center, one half of the hall is dedicated to entertainment and music; there is even table service at the bingo tables. More bingo halls are also set to be converted into a Beeston format, latest to join the club being the Aberdeen club for which over £1.5 million has been earmarked already. More than half the bingo estate could go the Beeston way if Aberdeen too does well. For its casinos too, the CEO plans to shift to a larger format, focused on giving a great time to gamers and titled the G-casino. 9 casinos have already been converted to the G brand and 20 more are expected to follow suit.

Mr. Burke also brought on board, Mr. Mark Jones as MD of Mecca Bingo to boost the entertainment initiatives of the group. Mr. Jones has extensive exposure to the hospitality industry having worked in senior management level positions at several major enterprises. Also on the cards are plans to grow internationally through acquisitions. The fortunes of the online businesses and the Spanish bingo clubs would also need to be revived.

Rank has had to stave off takeover bids in the past from its principal stakeholder, the Guoco Group. For the sake of bingo lovers everywhere who have grown to love and enjoy the Mecca bingo and for the stakeholders of the group, one hopes and prays that things do start looking up for the Group soon.

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Calvin Azuri

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Mecca Bingo Owner Rank Group Attempts to Turn Things Around

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