Rank Group, the UK casino and bingo hall operator, has posted an operating profit of £60.8m for the year ending 31 December 2009, when compared with a £9.1m loss for the previous year.

A strong performance by the company's Grosvenor Casinos chain, which saw operating profit grow by a fifth and revenue increase by 7 per cent, helped to increase an overall 3.4 per cent increase in revenue for the 12-month period. An increase in customers and customer visit helped to boost the casino chain, while Mecca Bingo saw an increase in revenue through a growth in average spend per visit helping to offset a "modest decline" in visits.

Rank Group chief executive Ian Burke said: "Our financial performance in 2009 was principally a result of the actions we have taken over a number of years to reposition the group. "During a period of considerable economic uncertainty, Rank has achieved revenue growth by improving the quality of product and service offered to customers and at the same time has maintained effective control of operating costs."

The group was also boosted by a successful legal challenge against HM Revenue and Customs, after a tribunal ruled that Rank Group was entitled to a VAT refund totalling nearly £26m.