Ladbrokes-owner GVC has today raised its full-year core earnings forecast for the second time in three months, as betting shops proved resilient despite tighter regulation and online gambling rose.
The company now expects full-year core earnings in the range of £670-680m, compared with the £650-670m range it provided in August.
Bookmakers including GVC, Flutter Entertainment and William Hill have been targeting the rapidly growing US market, which has expanded since sports betting regulation was liberalised.
They are also closing hundreds of shops on the high street in response to curbs on high speed slot machines.
Capitalising on the potentially huge US market, Flutter, the owner of Paddy Power Betfair, last week agreed to buy the company behind Poker Stars in a $6 billion share deal to create the world's largest online betting and gambling company by revenue.
Isle of Man-based GVC earlier entered into a joint-venture with hotel and casino operator MGM Resorts International.
GVC said today it had seen a good start in the US after the launch of its BetMGM mobile app in New Jersey.
Gambling companies are looking to the US after Britain put in place tighter regulations and cut the maximum stake allowed on high speed slot machines, dubbed the "crack cocaine" of gambling by critics, to just £2 from £100.
GVC's online net gaming revenue rose 12% for three months ended September 30. But it saw a 18% decline in UK retail like-for-like sales.
