Online expansion, world cup betting, their online casino and new outlets saw PaddyPower revenue grow by almost a third and pre-tax profits by 12 per cent in the first half of the year. The fast growing Irish bookmaker added that although its gross win percentages in July and August - since the end of the interim period - were weaker than the first half of the year, the group was still on track to meet its targeted operating profit growth of 40 per cent for the full year.

"Our business has grown substantially in the first six months of the year," said Patrick Kennedy, chief executive. "Turnover, gross win and profits have grown in each of the three divisions and, in addition, we have launched three more new businesses. We look forward to the rest of the year and beyond with confidence."

Pre-tax profits rose to €20.5m on revenues that rose to €105m. The group did well from the FIFA World Cup in Germany, with total bets of €48m, offsetting a bonanza for Irish punters with a record haul of ten Irish winners at Cheltenham, an Irish winner of the Grand National, the Irish rugby team winning the Triple Crown, and Munster's triumph in the Heineken Cup.

Online revenue including their online casino games increased by 75.8 per cent to €12.9m, with growth particularly marked in poker which was launched during the period following Paddy Power's sponsorship of the €1m 2006 Irish open poker tournament. In addition, the German language online sports book, which launched in April is proceeding according to plan, with a small loss expected in 2006.