Friday, July 21, 2006

As reported by the Scotsman: "Stanley Leisure, Britain's biggest casino
operator, said today that its business in Scotland had not been affected by
the smoking ban. "As the company posted a near doubling in annual profit, it
said the ban on smoking in enclosed public places, introduced in March, 'has
not had a material effect on our four casinos in Scotland'. "Stanley, which
has three of its 41 casinos in Edinburgh, including Cascades in Leith, said
it made a pre-profit on continuing operations of £31.9 million in the year
to April 30, a rise of 97 per cent on the previous year on revenues that
were two per cent higher at £224.8m. "But the company said the start of the
current year had been hit by a double whammy of a number of big wins at its
London casinos and Italy's success in the World Cup, which had affected its
international betting unit. ".Chief executive Bob Wiper described the
performance as 'satisfactory' in what he said had been ;a strategically
important year' ."