Sportingbet profit falls on investigation costs
ONLINE gambling firm Sportingbet posted a 69 per cent fall in full-year pre-tax profit on one-off costs related to a settlement with the US Department of Justice and its move to the main stock market, but said it started the new year well.
The company had agreed to forfeit $33m (£21m) to settle a US investigation over alleged illegal internet gambling.
Net gaming revenue in the first two months of the new financial year was 17 per cent above the same period last year.
“Whilst the economic outlook remains challenging, our spread of activities across the different economic cycles of Europe, Australia and South America gives us confidence for a further year of success,” the company said in a statement.
For the year ended 31 July, pre-tax profit was £6.9m, compared with £22.3m last year. Net gaming revenue grew 27 per cent to £207.5m.