Casino and Mecca Bingo proprietor Rank falls sufferer to £6.2m cost fraud in Spain

Casino and Mecca Bingo owner Rank has fallen victim to a £6.2million payment fraud in Spain.

Its shares fell 4.7 per cent, or 5p, to 100.4p after Spanish businesses Enracha and Yo were targeted.

Maidenhead-based Rank said it was supporting police investigations and carrying out its own internal probe with an external law firm. 

It said the financial hit would be disclosed as an exceptional and separate item in its 2025-26 results.

The setback comes after the remote gaming tax was raised from 21 per cent to 40 per cent in the Budget, It is set to lower Rank’s annual earnings by around £46million.

It said this would be offset by the £6million benefit of bingo duty being scrapped. It reports interim results on January 29. 

Scammed: Maidenhead-based Rank said it was supporting police investigations and carrying out its own internal investigation with an external law firm

Rank said in August it has been boosted by investing in its product and customer risk management, which it expects to accelerate further following casino reforms outlined by the Government over the summer.

These would ease limits on the number of gaming machines and sports betting in casinos. Rank expects to bring 850 more gaming machines into venues.