Online gaming giant 888 has reported impressive trading results across its last quarter following a UK television campaign for the poker and bingo brands. Annual profits to be in line with expectations.

The company added today that it had 8.2 million poker, casino and sport real money customer accounts as of the end of September which was up 21 percent on last year. Daily average revenues increased 6 percent in the month of October, which was helped by a 16 percent rise in poker. The increase was partly due to players returning to the game after the seasonally weak third quarter.

Gigi Levy, the Chief Executive, commented: "The fourth quarter has started well and given that our various business initiatives are progressing as planned we expect to grow the business further during the year,"

Third quarter operating income was flat at $61 million, the same as reported a year ago and the previous quarter. 888 which claims to be the largest online gaming venue said that France had awarded it a license to operate poker betting websites. Since last year, shares in the company have lost half of there to 43.5p which values the company at £156.3 million or $251.1 million.