Divi back at 888 as earnings double

The online gaming firm 888 is confident enough about the future to reinstate its interim dividend after seeing earnings double on the back of booming demand for its casino and poker products.

Profit for the first six months of the year hit $18.4m (£11.6m), compared with a loss of $22m last time around. Sales jumped 21 per cent to $186.4m in the same period.

Revenue was expected to grow thanks to the Spanish market, where the government awarded online gaming licences.