Online gaming operator Betcorp has stopped taking telephone bets from the US, after rival Betonsports was indicted on charges of fraud.
Melbourne-based Betcorp said it had turned in a strong rise in interim profits thanks to strong growth in customers and revenues, but that the recent legal upheaval in the US had prompted it to stop taking telephone bets from US residents.
In the six months to July 2, Betcorp made a pretax profit of $4.6 million (£2.4 million) compared to $1.9 million (£1 million) a year earlier, while total gross revenue from players rose 75 per cent to $22 million (£11.6 million).
Active customers during the period grew 33 per cent from a year earlier to 27,281.
The company said the main contributor to the improved performance was the much improved trading margin on sports betting.
The Department of Justice has taken legal action against London-listed Betonsports, alleging that it dodged taxes on more than $3.3 billion (£1.7 billion) in bets taken from American gamblers.
Authorities tabled charges relating to the firm and individuals, including Midlandsbased former chief executive David Carruthers.
Shares in Betcorp closed up 7p at 98.5p.
