Customers make fewer house calls at Mecca Bingo

PROFITS AT Mecca Bingo owner Rank Group tumbled in the first half of the year after its casinos and gaming venues saw declining sales.

The group, which also owns the Grosvenor Casinos chain, saw pre-tax profit fall 7 per cent to £32.8m in the six months to December 31.

The decline came after likefor-like sales at Mecca Bingo fell 3 per cent, with customer visits dropping 7 per cent.

This was despite a push to reinvigorate the bingo scene, with ‘experiential’ events such as Batty Bingo, Bonkers Bingo and Big Bingo Bash, as well as a bingothemed mini-cruise in partnership with P&O Ferries. Grosvenor booked a 1 per cent dip against what Rank described as a “challenging consumer backdrop”.

Visits were down 7 per cent, which the firm said was partly caused by refurbishment work in two London venues, with “ongoing customer due diligence controls” also affecting revenues. Online was a bright spot, where revenue increased 16 per cent to £60.6m.

Group revenue was flat at £354.2m but Rank said it remains confident expectations for the full year will be met.

Boss Henry Birch struck an upbeat tone: “Along with much of the high street, we have faced a more challenging retail trading environment in the first half. 2018 promises to be a busy year with positive changes, including the launch of a single account and wallet product across Grosvenor’s retail and digital businesses.”