Rank eyes land-based betting rollout in September as UK reforms pass into law

Summary

The UK parliament passed land-based gambling reforms on 22 July 2025 that modernise rules for casinos, allowing converted casino premises to offer betting via self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) and to increase the number of gaming machines in certain venues. Rank Group’s Grosvenor Casinos plans to roll out additional slot machines and SSBTs from September, pending Gambling Commission approvals. Mark Harper, MD of Grosvenor Casinos, says the changes will drive customer acquisition, help compete with Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) and have already prompted significant investment and venue upgrades by Rank.

Source

Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/rank-land-based-betting-uk-reforms/

Key Points

• UK land-based reforms were passed into law on 22 July 2025, following DCMS proposals in the 2023 white paper.
• Converted casinos can now offer betting via SSBTs; previously customers could bet on mobile but not through a venue SSBT.
• Venues with a gambling area of at least 280sqm may install up to 80 gaming machines, subject to a limit of five times the number of gaming tables.
• Rank expects Gambling Commission approvals to start by September and aims to begin installing extra slots and SSBTs from that month.
• Rank has invested heavily in venue upgrades in 2024–25 and forecasts an immediate revenue uplift from expanded slot access and retail sports betting.
• The reforms are intended to broaden investment scope for casinos (eg sports bars) and to make converted-casino regulation consistent with other venue types.

Context and relevance

These reforms mark a notable shift in the UK land-based gambling landscape, closing a regulatory anomaly that stopped casinos offering in-venue betting despite customers being able to bet on phones. For operators, the changes open new retail revenue streams and justify capital expenditure on modernised, multipurpose venues. Regulators’ licence timetables and how operators configure the permitted machine counts will shape local market competition, particularly versus AGCs and retail bookmakers.

Why should I read this?

Short version: this is a proper game-changer for UK casinos. If you follow retail gambling, hospitality investment or competitive moves in the betting sector, Rank going hard on slots and SSBTs from September matters — more footfall, new revenue lines and a fresh level of competition with AGCs and bookmakers. We’ve boiled down the essentials so you don’t have to wade through the full regulatory text.