2012 is set to be a year of major opportunity for online gaming and entertainment solutions provider 888.
In its pre-close trading update ahead of the year ending December 31, 2011, the group said that in order to establish and build market share it intends to "invest heavily" in the several newly-regulated markets that are opening up across Europe.
Although this investment, as well as increases in gaming duty, will have an impact on the group's profit expectations, the board still expects results for the year ending December 31, 2012, to be slightly ahead of current market expectations.
The announcement that 888 expects clean EBITDA for the year ending December 31, 2011, to be "significantly ahead" of market expectations saw shares in the group gain more than five per cent in London yesterday morning.
Further to its interim management statement in November, trading remains very strong, particularly in casino and poker.
