The internet gambling software developer has cited the award of new contracts and an eight-fold rise in poker revenues as the reasons for a 172 per cent increase to $37.3 million in its first half adjusted net profit.
In its first results since it floated in March, Playtech revealed an increase of 139% to $46.2 million in total revenues, with casino revenues up by 129% to $40.4 million and poker revenues up by 851% to $4.8 million.
The software firm announced the addition of seven new licensees since the start of the year, which have the brought the total number of Playtech operators to 42 and the number of powered websites to 137.
Playtech also said it was initiating new Asian focused games and product development, including Mahjong. The company, recently licensed in Alderney, announced a long-term recruitment initiative at the Playtech Academy in Estonia and the opening of a new development centre in Bulgaria.
Avigur Zmora, Chief Executive, commented: “Playtech is ideally placed to take full advantage of the growth being enjoyed by global gambling markets. Geographical diversification through the addition of quality licensees, coupled with our new product pipeline, will allow us to offer an enhanced and more complete solution to our licensees and their customers. As a result of our various initiatives, the global markets, in which we hold strong positions and the continued growth being enjoyed by the online gaming market worldwide, I look forward to the second half of the year with confidence.”
Zmora also said he was not unduly worried by US moves to outlaw online gambling. “Even in the worst-case scenario, if sports books in the States were shut down, still they\’d continue running the poker and casino operations,” he said.