LONDON, August 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --



As Mecca Bingo owner Rank announces its recent GBP205 million buy-up of Gala Coral casinos, the top three UK casino operator rankings has had a bit of a shake up, announce Belle Rock Entertainment [http://www.bellerockentertainment.com ].

Rank Group

The Rank group is one of Europe's leading casino groups, and now the largest casino operator in the UK. Employing more than 3,500 people, Rank recently acquired 23 Gala casinos in a GBP205 million deal this May, bringing the total number of its UK Grosvenor casinos to 58. All but four of the Grosvenor casinos are located outside the UK capital, and the company targets a younger, less formal clientele thanks to its G-Casino format.

Rank also operates 103 Mecca Bingo clubs in the UK. The company operates throughout Europe, with a total of 173 licensed gaming outlets distributed in the UK, Spain and Belgium. It's 2011 revenue, prior to the takeover of 23 further casinos this year, stood at GBP589.9 million, with a net income of GBP153.7 million.

Genting

The largest casino operator in the world, with leading casino resorts in the Americas, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, they are also the second largest operator in the UK. The recent Gala/Rank deal means that the Rank Group has overtaken them in UK casino ownership for the first time.

They currently operate 46 casinos in the UK, among them Maxims Casinos, 12 Circus Casinos, 20 Mint Casinos, as well as Crockfords, The Colony Club and the Palm Beach Casino. Their distinct casino brands each appeal to a different clientele, with Mint Casinos aimed at regular, professional players, Circus Casinos being less formal and open to all, and Maxims being their high-end brand.

Genting employs over 58,000 people globally across its 11,000 acres of prime resort land. With assets of $16.6 billion as of 2010, their latest revenue figures reached 15.2 billion MYR in 2010 too.

Gala Coral

Prior to the Rank Group buyout deal, the Gala Coral Group owned 32 casinos in the UK, accounting for 20 per cent of the UK casino market. After selling off 23 of these casinos to Rank, Gala still retains 9 casinos, alongside its 143 UK bingo clubs, more than 1,700 betting shops. Employing 16,000 globally, its turnover reached GBP1.1 billion in 2011, although the company holds debts of GBP1.32 million. By selling off the majority of its UK casino operations, it helps to rebalance its finances, and concentrate on its Gala Bingo and Coral operations.

Rank Group Wiki page [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rank_Group#Grosvenor_Casinos ]

Gaming Awards, May 2012 [http://www.gaming-awards.com/NEWS/rank-announce-growing-revenues-from-casino-online ]

Casino Answers [http://www.casinoanswers.com/live/who-are-the-main-casino-operators-in-the-uk.php ]

Gala Coral Annual Report 2011 [http://www.galacoral.co.uk/media-centre/news/Gala-Coral-Group-Limited-Annual-Results-2011.html ]

About Belle Rock Entertainment

Belle Rock Entertainment is well-established UK casino review site, providing in depth online casino reviews about aspects such as casino bonuses and games available at each casino.