Mecca bingo owner Rank has confirmed talks over a deal with rival Gala Coral, which would create the UK’s biggest casino chain, including a Gala Casino at Bradford’s Leisure Exchange. The deal could be worth £250 million, but Rank said no terms have been finalised. An acquisition would accelerate Rank’s plans to have 45 Grosvenor outlets by the end of 2015 through the faster roll-out of its G-Casino format, which attracts a younger, less formal crowd.
The firm, which employs 3,000 people, has all but four of its casinos outside London.
A sale of the casinos would allow Gala Coral to concentrate on Gala bingo and Coral bookmaking divisions.
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