Australia's Tatts Group says H1 profit up 9 pct

MELBOURNE, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Tatts Group (TTS.AX), an Australian gaming company, posted an 8.8 percent rise in first-half net profit, close to market expectations, but said growth was likely to slow in its second half. Tatts reported a net profit of A$144.7 million ($93.8 million) in the six months to Dec. 31, up from A$133 million in the year earlier period.

The company was expected to report a first-half net profit of around A$145 million, based on forecasts from four analysts.

It declared an interim dividend of 10 cents per share.

"The second half has begun well. However, the rate of growth in the second half of the financial year is highly unlikely to match the levels achieved over the last six months because of a relatively strong corresponding period last year." ($1=1.54 Australian Dollar)