by Anton Johan
Rank Plc, the UK gambling group, announced its financial figures for the first half of 2010.
According to the group, revenues rose by 10%, but this was offset by a 23% decline in operating profits which reached £2.3 million.
Rank said that profits shrank due to increased marketing investments and product developments, including the start up costs of entering the Spanish and Italian gaming markets.
Entering these markets cost Rank Plc around £300,000.
Casino revenues for the group rose to £3 million - a jump of 25%.
Mecca Bingo and the G Casino Brand showed exceptional growth figures.
Rank signed an exclusive deal with Britain's Got Talent, which led to a number of excellent marketing promotions for the group's Mecca Bingo online bingo room.
As a result, Mecca Bingo saw its revenues climb by 20.7% to nearly £20 million, and Rank Plc. said that the site would be receiving a major facelift towards the end of this year.
A disappointing result was Rank's Blue Square sportsbook offering which, despite the excitement of the World Cup, saw revenues drop by 18%.
The site's poker brand showed an even more significant drop in revenues to only £1 million - a decline of over 40%.
