Today Playtech, the biggest casino and poker software firm in the world, reported that it was greatly confident about 2008 trading as fourth-quarter revenues jumped considerably. The United Kingdom-based, Israeli-run firm said revenues grew 101 % to $32.7 million (£17,000,000) when the prior financial year’s revenues of the U.S. weren’t included.

Playtech, whose casino and poker software is used by sites such as Blue Square and Bet365, has quickly rebuilt its business with Asian and European online betting sites after the government of the United States effectively prohibited online gaming in October, 2006. Revenues from its core casino software rose to US $22.9 million in the 3 months to the end of December and proceeds from its fast-growing poker software grew to US $9.4 million.

Shares in the firm, that in the last three weeks have risen about 20%, fell 3.8 % to 378 pence in early trading, valuing the business at around £820 million.