Sportingbet profit up 34 percent

LONDON (Reuters) - Online gaming company Sportingbet (SBT.L) reported a 34 percent rise in third quarter operating profit on Wednesday and said its fourth quarter had started strongly.

Sportingbet said operating profit for the third quarter to April 30 was 9.8 million pounds, compared with 7.3 million the year before.

The company said it was "cautiously optimistic" for the full- year outcome.

Sportingbet added that talks were continuing with the United States Department of Justice in relation to the company's previous U.S.-facing activities.

(Reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by Victoria Bryan)