Leading online sportsbook and gaming operator SportingBet has released a trading update for its fourth quarter that finished at the end of July revealing that its financial results were aided by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The London-based operator stated that it had "continued to perform in line with management expectations throughout the final quarter of the year" and would release its full-year financial results on October 6.

"In line with much of the betting industry, the group enjoyed a strong performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup aided by favourable margins as a result of a number of fixtures going against the favourites and a significant number of low scoring games," read the update from SportingBet.

"Over £50 million was staked on World Cup markets of which 65 percent was bet in-play at an aggregate margin in excess of 17 percent. The strong World Cup performance underpins the fourth quarter trading results and the board remains confident that the group will meet management expectations for the financial year just ended."