Power Leisure, the Paddy Power betting firm, had a 55 percent increase in last year's pre-tax profits to €10.95 million (£8.62 million). The firm, which introduced its Internet based service paddypower.com last June, said turnover was up 35 per cent at €362.8 million. Power reported a strong performance in all divisions with turnover up by 21.4 per cent in its licensed betting offices, while it rose by 56 per cent in its telephone betting service. The new Internet service, which had more than 14,000 accounts by the beginning of February, nearly 6,000 of which were deemed active, recorded sales of €8.5 million.