Newly fused gambling operator Ladbrokes Coral Group closed out the old year with a bang, despite December’s punter-friendly sporting results.

On Wednesday, Ladbrokes Coral issued an unaudited trading update, which forecasted FY2016 pro forma operating profit to come in between £275m-£285m, with Ladbrokes contributing £101m and the Gala Coral Group brands kicking in £179m.

The forecast is in line with market expectations, despite the poor sporting results in the second half of December that rival William Hill used to explain its third profit warning in 12 months. (And Hills’ FY16 forecast of £260m means that it’s now less profitable than Ladbrokes Coral.) Ladbrokes Coral will issue initial FY16 results next month, with the final audited figures arriving March 28.

Ladbrokes Coral’s Q4 digital revenue was up 18% over the same period in 2015, with Ladbrokes.com up 17% and Coral.co.uk gaining 13%, despite sports margins falling a full point from Q4 2015. In Australia, Ladbrokes reported revenue rising 45% thanks to a 57% rise in betting stakes.