888 Holdings up 2.4% after profit rises 74% (3:24 AM ET) LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Shares in U.K. gambling group 888 Holdingsrose 2.4% Thursday after the firm announced a 74% rise in first-half net profit to $42.7 million on the back of 32% growth in gambling revenue to $163.5 million. The group said it has expanded strongly outside the U.S., with 48% of its revenue coming from outside the U.S. and 67% of new players located outside the U.S. 888 said trading during the start of the third quarter was in line with expectations and it expects a satisfactory result for the year. It also announced that CEO John Anderson will step down at the end of the year, to be replaced by chief operating officer Gigi Levy. Anderson will become a non-executive director.

Is this a sign of things to come for Pegasus? Lets hope so.