SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Australia's largest betting company, Tabcorp TAH.AX , on Thursday posted a 5 percent rise in half-year profit as it pushes ahead with its planned A$6.2 billion ($4.70 billion)purchase of lotteries group Tatts TTS.AX .
Tabcorp reported an underlying net profit of A$102.7 million for the half ended Dec. 31, up from $A97.5 million a year earlier.
The result was slightly above average estimates of 4 percent growth in underlying earnings from two analysts.
The interim dividend of A$0.125 fully franked was 4 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Tabcorp wants to buy Tatts in part to fend off a growing challenge from overseas online rivals like William Hill WMH.L and Paddy Power Betfair PPB.I . ($1 = 1.3201 Australian dollars)