Rank eyes land-based betting rollout in September as UK reforms pass into law
Summary
On 22 July 2025 the UK parliament enacted land-based casino reforms that allow casinos to offer betting via self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) and to increase the number of gaming machines in suitably sized venues. Rank Group’s Grosvenor Casinos plans to roll out additional slot machines and SSBTs from September, subject to Gambling Commission approvals expected around August/September. Mark Harper, MD of Grosvenor Casinos, describes the changes as “transformational” and says Rank has already been investing in venue upgrades to capture the opportunity.
Source
Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/rank-land-based-betting-uk-reforms/
Key Points
- • UK regulations passed on 22 July 2025 permit converted casinos to offer retail betting via SSBTs.
- • Converted casino premises can install up to 80 gaming machines if the gambling area is at least 280sqm and machine numbers do not exceed five times the number of gaming tables.
- • Rank expects Gambling Commission licence approvals by late August and aims to begin installations from September.
- • Rank anticipates an immediate revenue uplift and broader customer appeal from adding slots and retail sports betting.
- • The operator has made heavy investments: seven major upgrades in 2024 and a further six venues targeted for investment this year to prepare for reform-driven demand.
Why should I read this?
Quick and useful — if you follow UK retail gambling, this is a major commercial shift. Rank is betting on September to bring new revenue and footfall to its casinos, so if you care about venue strategy, regulatory impact or who wins the high-street gambling battle, this explains why the market could look very different soon.