Rank Group Plc, the parent company of Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos has announced 2% growth in revenue for the first 15 weeks of the financial year, mainly as a result of an increase both customers and the number of visits customers are making. However in comparison the numbers are not that great and while we always look forward to trading statements from Rank this was rather disappointing.

The gaming giant stated that both Rank Interactive and Mecca Bingo achieved strong growth in revenue but the performance of Grosvenor Casinos was constrained by an unusually low win margin in its London venues at the start of the year.

Revenues at Mecca Bingo increased by 4 percent in the 15 weeks as a result of growth in customers spending per habbits. Customer visits were similar to the same period for 2010 while the amount spent per visit increased by 4 percent.

Revenue from Grosvenor Casinos was in line with the same period in 2010, despite strong growth in customer visits. On a like-for-like basis, customer visits grew by 12% but spend per visit decreased by 11%, due largely to a low win margin in its London casinos.

"Despite the challenges facing our businesses, the group remains confident in its prospects for the year and the achievement of its longer-term ambitions," the group said in a company statement.

Meanwhile revenue from Rank's Spanish bingo chain, Top Rank Espana, sank 20% after it was negatively affected by the introduction of a full smoking ban on 2 January 2011.

Our experience shows that the Mecca Bingo figures are not that fantastic for two reasons. Firstly several companies we have spoken to reported a significant rise in admissions in the first 6 weeks of 2011 although Mecca Bingo figures suggest that the company did not do so well. Secondly the bingo industry suffered as a result of the snow in the first quarter of 2010 and therefore we would have expected admissions to have increased significantly in comparison to 2010 not be in line with last years figures. The 4 percent increase in spending per visit is nothing special as this is only in line with the UK inflation figure.

Rank Interactive saw a 23% increase in revenue due to strong growth from Bluesq.com and Meccabingo.com.

Rank also said it received a tax and interest charge rebate worth around £154m from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).