Once a giant of the British film industry, Rank Group is now happy simply to capture hearts on Mother’s Day. “It’s our biggest day in the entire year,” according to John O’Reilly, the chief executive. “People take their mum to bingo, which shows you what the Mecca business is all about. We give a free box of chocolates to every customer.”
The long journey from film, photocopiers, holiday camps and nightclubs to bingo and casinos was almost complete when Rank was knocked sideways by Covid and the subsequent economic turmoil. Perhaps this will be the year when Rank gets its act together.
It has been nudging customers from bingo to the younger fare of casinos and online gaming. In the latest half-year to the
