Flutter gambling shares surge 6% as investors renew focus on its bet on the US

Shares in Flutter — the betting conglomerate that includes Paddy Power, Betfair, its Australian and now key operations in a newly liberalised US — surged over 6% after it unveiled no nasty surprises in half-year results.

This comes despite exchequer tax increases and the costs of responding around the world to heightened concerns over gambling addiction having weighed on earnings.