US Edition The operator of the New Football Pools said it was "actively pursuing international expansion plans, particularly in Asia and eastern Europe", with talks with Indian partners understood to be most advanced.
Ian Penrose, Sportech chief executive, declined to say which countries were top of his list but said the group had "accelerated that process over recent weeks" after relaunching the pools game in Britain.
Unveiling a 20pc rise in gross win last year to £71.8m, Mr Penrose said Sportech was now a "net recruiter of customers" for its pools games – reversing a downward trend evident since 1994.
Around 650,000 people a week are now playing the game, up from 630,000 at the half year – though it is only in the last quarter that new recruits are outnumbering those who have given up playing. Attrition within the traditional game fell to 7pc last year versus 9pc in 2007.
Profits fell from £11.6m to £7.1m pre-tax after £6.7m of exceptional charges for integrating the Vernons business and the pools relaunch. Underlying operating profits rose by 20pc to £22.6m.
Analysts were slightly disappointed by delays to distribution deals with Ladbrokes and 888. Matthew Gerard at Investec cut his pre-tax profit forecasts by £3m to £22.4m for this year.
Mr Penrose believed the pools would not be hard hit by the downturn. "We have an average spend of £2. I think we are recession resilient," he said.