Gamblers are used to this change of fortune - one day on top and the next not as successful. You win some you lose some. Such clichés are part of the gambler's daily life. But as the financial reports from the online gaming company 888 reveal, casino companies are not unfamiliar with this rollercoaster fortune either.

It is widely held that while players win and lose, the casino is always a sure winner. But the companies too face unknown factors; they even have to accept luck, good or bad, as it comes their way. This company has had some of both.

The first half of the year has seen a drop in business, following the shutting down of the US market; it practically halved. But 888 said this week that it has seen its fortunes (literally, the bottom line in financial reports) change in the second half of the year. It is expanding in other markets around the world.

These markets include Latin America, where it has signed an agreement with a leading poker brand. It now supports local markets, caters 12 different languages and is thinking of acquiring other companies or entering local markets through long-term cooperation agreements.

What are these positive signs that 888 has been quick to share with the world? Summer months, with travel and vacations worldwide are traditionally a slow period for the gaming industry. Even sports betting is slow this time of year, before soccer and football seasons open. And yet, this July has been active and profitable for the company and the industry at large.

The six months that led up to the summer have seen only 13.5 million pounds in net income, a drop of about two thirds from the same period the previous year. Whether it is gambler's optimism that profits will once again sky rocket, or a founded expectation, only time will tell. But we know for sure that sticking with the game, patiently and wisely, is the practice of a true player.