Australian betting operator Tabcorp says its online business was key to the company meeting analysts’ forecasts for its fiscal 2015 performance.

Group revenue in the 12 months ending June 30 was up 5.7% to A$2.15b, while net profit after tax rose 157.4% to $334.5m. However, $163.2m of this profit came via a favorable income tax benefit, without which profit would have risen a more realistic but still impressive 14.7% to $171.3m.

Tabcorp’s mainstay wagering & media revenue was up 7% to $1.86b, with Fixed Odds & Digital being yet again the division’s strongest growth engine. Digital betting turnover was up 17.8% to $3.4b while retail betting was basically flat at $6.6b. Revenue at Tabcorp’s Northern Terrirtory-licensed Luxbet site rose 10.9% to $53.1m and and 63% of online wagers were made via mobile devices. Luxbet also received a UK operating license during the year.

TAB Racing revenue rose 5% to $1.67b, with tote revenue down 2% to $1.24b and fixed-odds up one-third to $430m. TAB Sports revenue rose 16.2% to $219m. The Trackside virtual racing operation reported revenue up 12% to $100m.