Gambling company Rank Group has reported a 29 per cent rise in half-year profit, helped by its Grosvenor casinos business and online operations.
Rank said adjusted pre-tax profit rose to £35.8 million in the first half ended December 31, from £27.7m a year earlier.
Revenue from continuing operations rose three per cent to £361.7m.
Spend per customer visit rose about five per cent at Rank's London casinos, helping revenue grow nine per cent during the six months.
Across the group, spend per customer rose 2.2 per cent to £47.19 pounds.
Revenue at Grosvenor casinos, which offers roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker, rose six per cent to £205.6m during the period.
Grosvenor casinos is UK's largest multi-channel casino brand and accounts for about 52 per cent of group revenue, according to the company's 2014 annual report.
Rank said on Thursday it signed an agreement with Bede Gaming to supply a new core digital platform after reporting a 16 per cent jump in first-half digital revenue.
Rank, which is majority owned by Malaysia's Guoco Group , had 94 Mecca bingo halls and 57 Grosvenor casinos in Britain by the end of October 2014.
The company also raised its interim dividend to 1.60 pence from 1.35 pence a year earlier.
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