Gaming giant Rank which operates the Mecca Bingo brand and Grosvenor Casinos has reported strong trading results across its divisions with a 7% rise in like-for-like sales in the third quarter. The company has renewed confidence in the full year results despite the challenging economic environment the UK is facing.

Rank Interactive and Grosvenor Casino reported particularly strong results for the 13 week period ending 3^rd October. Rank Interactive which includes the online gaming site bluesq.com was up 26 percent in like for like sales and the casino brand was helped by a 9 percent increase in like for like sales.

Mecca Bingo also showed positive signs of improvement with an increase in spend per head of customers resulting in a 2 percent increase in like for like sales. The company made reference to the ‘difficult economic environment’ in which the Spanish bingo business operated however there were positive signs with a 1 percent growth. The company commented:

‘The board is encouraged by the sustained performance improvements achieved by each of Rank's businesses during the period and expects full year performance to be around the top end of analysts' forecasts,’.

‘Whilst the consumer environment is likely to remain challenging for some time to come, the Group is in a strong financial position and has made considerable progress in improving the standard of its products and services.’