This time it is a Rank casino where employees find their jobs have disappeared. The decision by Rank to close their Grosvenor Casino in Moortown, Leeds follows Gala closing one of its Bristol casinos and Genting Stanley removing gaming tables from its casino in Leicester. The Leeds casino, which had been operational for 40 years, closed less than one month after the opening by London Clubs International of the £13 million Alea casino.

There is still one Grosvenor Casino in Leeds, in Merrion Way. Staff from the Moortown Casino, according to Rank, have mostly been deployed to other Grosvenor Casinos. Casino reception will remain open for a few weeks to offer transport to the other Grosvenor Casino in Leeds. The rise in gaming duty last year was blamed for the casino becoming commercially unviable, something that may increasingly affect the smaller UK casinos and the jobs of their employees.

Yesterday Rank received notification that a division of Guoco Group, Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Berhad, had acquired 24.08% of the total voting rights in the Rank Group Plc. The company is expected to publish an Interim Management Statement on Friday. (E-10.15.08)

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