Poker machine developer Aristocrat Leisure has more than doubled its half year profit due to stronger market share and growth in online and mobile gaming.
The company made a profit of $159 million in the six months to March 31, up from $78 million a year earlier, a result it had flagged to the market earlier in May.
Profit in Aristocrat's Australian and New Zealand operations rose by $30 million as it gained significant market share, partly driven by the top performing Helix poker machine cabinet, and the Lightning Link and Lightning Cash poker machine games.
Its digital operations were also more profitable, due to the continued success of its Heart of Vegas casino games on Facebook and growth in its Heart of Vegas app since its launch on Android.
Aristocrat said its digital gaming business achieved a record number of daily active users.
The company also realised a $9.3 million benefit from foreign exchange movements.
Chief executive Jamie Odell said Aristocrat's focus on growing market share and profit through investing in its products, targeting priority segments and improving its execution was delivering results, despite a generally flat and highly gaming competitive market.
Aristocrat still expects its net profit before amortisation of acquired intangibles in the second half of its fiscal year to be broadly in line with the first half's $183.2 million, he said.
That would deliver an annual NPATA of about $366 million, compared to the previous year's $236 million.
Aristocrat shares were down 17 cents at $12.26 at 1230 AEST, after rising 18 per cent since it flagged its half year results on May 12.
BIG HALF YEAR WINDFALL FOR ARISTOCRAT
* Net profit of $159.1m, up from $77.6m
* Revenue up 47pct to $1.01b
* Unfranked interim dividend up two cents to 10 cents
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