UK-listed gambling firm Gala Coral Group turned in a stellar performance in what could be its final earnings report before its pending merger with rival Ladbrokes.

Gala Coral reported growth across all its divisions in the 16 weeks ending Jan. 16, despite the additional taxes that have undone so many of its UK competitors. Gala Coral CEO Carl Leaver credited “CRM-led reductions in churn and high levels of customer acquisition at market leading costs-per-acquisition.”

Group revenue rose more than 16% to £333.3m while gross profit improved by 10% to £225m and earnings rose nearly 15% to £62.4m. Leaver credited better football results and claimed earnings would have risen 56% were it not for an extra £22.7m bill courtesy of the UK’s new online point-of-consumption tax (£12.7m) and the increase in land-based Machine Games Duty (£9.9m).

The Coral.co.uk division reported revenue up 69% to £47.6m thanks to the aforementioned sporting turnaround. Sports betting revenue rose 173% to £19.4m as stakes rose 50%, driven by a 39% rise in first-time depositors and 28% gains in spend-per-head.