bwin online gaming revenues up 26% in H1 for first half

bwin Interactive Entertainment AG generated gross gaming revenues from betting, poker, casino and games of EUR 207.2 mln in the first half of 2008, an increase of 25.6% from the same period the previous year. The gross gaming revenues generated from the poker, casino and games sectors amounted to EUR 43.7 mln (H1 2007: EUR 40 mln), EUR 33.8 mln (30.7 mln) and EUR 9.9 mln (6.8 mln), respectively recording increases of 9.1% for poker, 10.0% for casino, and 46.0% for games compared to H1 2007.
Net gaming revenues for the Vienna-based online betting and gaming group (gross gaming revenues less all deductions such as betting duties, casino taxes and bonuses granted to customers) amounted to EUR 179.9 mln in H1 2008.
Positive growth of the customer base continued in the first half of 2008 due to the successful use of communication opportunities during the EURO 2008, coupled with an enlarged product range. The number of active customers rose 31% to 1,431,000, while the number of new active customers rose by 45.6% from the same period the previous year to 550,000.
Operating expenses (adjusted for IFRS 2) rose in H1 2008 to EUR 170.7 mln, up 30.2% due to investments made during the European Soccer Championships as well as to higher investment in the latest technologies employed not only in payment (PCI certification, e-money licence), customer and CRM applications, but also especially in the field of security (ISO 27001).