Casino operator Rank furloughs nearly 90% of UK staff

(Reuters) – Casino and gaming operator Rank Group Plc said on Monday it had furloughed nearly 90% of its workforce in the UK as its venues remain closed due to coronavirus-led lockdowns.

The company said about 7,000 of its 7,600 workers had been furloughed and would receive 80% of their salary under the government’s job retention scheme, while its directors also volunteered a 20% cut to pay.

Rank, whose like-for-like net gaming revenue fell 4% for the third quarter, forecast annual underlying operating profit between 48 million pounds ($59.76 million) and 58 million pounds, assuming its venues remain closed for the rest of the financial year.

(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)