Aristocrat Leisure has announced half-year results to March 31, 2018 with revenue up 28.5 per cent to US$1.5bn and profits up 2.8 per cent to $256.5m. The biggest news is that its digital revenue rose 220 per cent.

a

The company said that in North America its premium Class III market grew 19 per cent to 18,304 machines and Class II was up 4.6 per cent to 22,996. The revenue increase was driven by growth in the Americas and in the digital sector, notably with the Cashman Casino series. Other contributing factors were the acquisition of Plarium Global Ltd. In October last year and Big Fish Games in January of this year.

The Australasian business delivered $4m in post-tax profits, largely driven by the performance of the Helix cabinet and the Dragon Cash and Dragon Link products. The digital sector provided post-tax earnings growth of $84.3m.

Breaking down the performance, the report shows that in the half-year the Australasian revenue was $214.9m ($210.8m), up 1.9 per cent; the Americas revenue was $764.9m compared with $715.8m, up 6.9 per cent, international Class II was $108.2m down 16.3per cent from $129.2m and digital was up 220.7 per cent at $552.9m compared with $172.4m.

CEO Trevor Croker said that online daily users of Aristocrat’s products had increased nearly six-fold to 8.3m. "Aristocrat will continue to push for growth by increasing our strategic investment in design and development in order to protect and extend market leading positions," he said.

"The group expects further growth in its social casino and social games business, with increased investment in user acquisition associated with the launch of new apps across all business units."