UK-listed online gambling operator GVC Holdings handed shareholders an early Christmas present following an encouraging trading update.

On Thursday, GVC announced that it had enjoyed continued “strong trading performance” through Q4 2016, allowing the company to project that its full year earnings will come in at the upper end of market expectations.

GVC says pro forma group daily net gaming revenue in Q4 through December 12 is up 12% over the same period last year, with sports betting revenue up 19% and gaming/other up 8%. GVC says the positive comparison is all the more impressive given that December was GVC’s strongest month in 2015.

As a result of this good fortune, GVC announced that it was boosting the special dividend it proposed in November. The previously announced per share dividend of €10¢ will rise 49% to €14.9¢. The dividend payment will be settled in sterling at 12.5p per share.