The full-year pretax profit declared by Internet gaming group 888 on Thursday has increased for 16% this year, and it amounted to $50.2 million (28.7 million pounds). In 2004 it ran as high as $43.1 million. The year of 2006 doesn’t seem to be less promising either.

As Chief Executive John Anderson reported their trading coincides with the expectations of the managers, i.e.: the number of casino players has increased to 4.1 million, whereas the number of poker players – to 1.5 million. Moreover, 888 tried to make investments abroad, away from the USA, thus decreasing the part of the U.S. revenues from 58% to 55%. Simultaneously the UK share reached 20%, 5% was added to 15% in 2004. Anderson explained their management’s politics by their wish to get down the U.S. share to 20-15% as quickly as possible, as it is not wise at all to rely too much on only one country. So, they are expanding their horizons!