Aristocrat performance strong despite new Japanese laws

Aristocrat also said that overall market and regulatory conditions across global gaming markets had created year-round challenges. Aristocrat’s Japanese revenue dropped by $323.3 million to $50.4 million, a fall of over 85 per cent, and the operation booked a loss of $5.6 million for the year compared with an $88 million profit in 2005. Its non-Japanese business profits were considerably stronger, increasing by 26.7 per cent to $431.5 million, with North American profits growing to $252.4 million, a rise of 38.5 per cent.

Total group revenue for the year was down nearly 17 per cent to $1.10 billion, while earnings before interest and tax fell just over six per cent to $335.3 million.

Aristocrat’s chief executive, Paul Oneile, called 2006 a good year, particularly given the impact of prevailing market conditions in Japan. "The results are in line with our expectations," he said, "and reflect strong overall growth in our non-Japanese businesses. Despite the subdued market and regulatory conditions across most jurisdictions in which we operate, the company continues to gain market share and improve margins," he added.

"We are well placed to capture a large share of the anticipated expansion of global gaming markets over the next few years," Oneile concluded.