Optimal Payments, the internet payments processor which this season became shirt sponsor of Crystal Palace, said the surge in online gambling on the World Cup boosted turnover by $5 million (£3.1 million) in the first half of the year.
The AIM-listed company, which operates under the Neteller brand, said its turnover in the six months to the end of June was up more than a third to $159.1 million with underlying profits jumping 54% to $39 million.
This means that its revenues are beginning to return to the kind of levels seen in 2006, before the US banned companies from processing payments to online gambling firms and arrested two UK online betting company chiefs.
The country is now relaxing its stance, and Optimal Payments’ president and chief executive Joel Leonoff, said: “Our European version of Neteller continues to demonstrate impressive growth while our US Neteller release is gaining traction and is extremely well positioned to leverage off new US markets regulating and re-opening the doors for US-based online gaming.”
Shares rose 3.4% to 489.25p.
