Casino and bingo club operator Rank has warned that the smoking ban coming into force next month is likely to hurt profits in the second half of the year. The owner of Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos said it had seen a "solid start" to the year with 5pc growth in like-for-like sales in the 25 weeks to date. Operating profits also rose, helped by cost-cutting. However, the impact of the smoking ban, which comes into force in public places in England from July 1, is "likely to hold back profit performance in the second half of the year", the company said.