Paddy Power attracted a record number of new online customers in the first half of 2014 but pre-tax profits were down 20 per cent to €62m.
New online customer numbers shot up by 35 per cent, with nearly 800,000 new punters added in H1, more than the whole of 2013.
Operating profit however fell 14 per cent to €34m with the company citing “adverse sports results” as a factor, notably results in the Premier League and at the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot.
Chief executive Patrick Kennedy said: "The ‘punter friendly’ results in football and racing which impacted the gross win percentage in the initial six months of 2014 failed to put a halt to our gallop with strong underlying performance and accelerating top line momentum delivered in the period.
"For example, we acquired more new sportsbook customers in these six months than in all of 2013. We had a cracking World Cup which generated stakes of almost €200m, 130 per cent ahead of the previous tournament.
“Australia continues to power ahead and Italy has made significant progress," he added.
