French headwinds hit Playtech

28th Jul 2010 16:00

Gaming software giant Playtech ran into headwinds in the second quarter of 2010 that have continued into the current three months.Daily activity for first the 26 days of the current quarter declined by 12% like-for-like compared to the previous three months. The decline reflects the combined impact of the closing stages of the football World Cup and normal seasonal slowdown. On an absolute basis, including France, the third quarter is 19% below the daily average of the previous quarter. Without France, activity is up 20% like-for-like.Gross income for the second quarter to June totalled €44.5m, up 34% on last year and 2% ahead of the first three months.Casino revenues rose 34% to €24.9m year on year and by 3% sequentially. Poker revenues fell 13% to €7.3m while bingo revenues rose 61% to €2.8m. William Hill Online's contribution rose by 43% to €7.6m year-on-year and by 4% on the first quarter.Underlying earning in the first half are expected to be not less than €53m, Playtech said.