Gaming machine supplier Aristocrat Leisure says it faces economic uncertainty and fluctuating currency exchange rates but still expects business to get better.

Aristocrat in 2012 expected continued volatility globally due to mixed economic conditions and currency headwinds, chief executive Jamie Odell said in the company’s 2011 business review, released on Friday.

He said that competitive trading conditions were likely to continue.

“At this early stage, and based on current market conditions, we expect strong growth in normalised full year net profit after tax in 2012, with operational performance well ahead of the prior year,” Mr Odell said.

“Earnings are likely to again be heavily weighted to the second half of the year, particularly the fourth quarter.”

Mr Odell said that significant new game releases in all major markets, progress in targeting profitable segments and continued cost discipline would boost operational performance in 2012 as Aristocrat moved into the second half of a five-year turnaround strategy.

Aristocrat would focus on building its foothold in regulated online markets, with the business having made 29 online game deployments by the end of 2011.

Aristocrat in February booked an annual net profit of $66.14 million for the 2011 calendar year, down 14.3 per cent on calendar 2010.

Excluding significant items for both 2011 and 2010, profit rose by 21.1 per cent and by 34 per cent on a constant-currency basis.

Shares in Aristocrat were four cents higher at $3.02 on Friday.