Rank Interactive Gaming (IOM) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rank Group plc, announced today that has been given an online gaming license by the Isle of Man.
The company released a statement saying that the site will launch later this year. On Sept. 7, 2001, upon the release of the U.K. company's interim results, CEO Mike Smith said the company was gearing up for entry in the Internet gambling market.
"Significant progress has been made in the development of a range of Internet gambling products which will be launched later this year," he said.
On Nov. 5, the company, which owns the Hard Rock Café chain, debuted an Internet endeavor aimed at combining all of its retail gaming products on a Web site. The endeavor, called Rank.com, was to incorporate Mecca Bingo, Grosvenor Casinos, investor information and access to Hard Rock Web sites.
A public relations representative for Rank declined to comment today on the details of the license or company's Internet gaming operation. Isle of Man officials did not immediately respond to IGN's request for more information on its newest licensee.