Amaya (AYA.TO AYA.O) says discussions with “a number of parties” about a possible takeover offer have progressed, as the online gambling company continues to review its strategic options.

The update comes as the online gambling company beat analysts' second-quarter profit and revenue expectations as it added more customers. Amaya's net earnings from continuing operations rose to US$22.49 million, or 12 cents per share, in the second quarter ended June 30, from US$6.38 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, Amaya earned 46 cents per share, beating analysts' average estimate of 35 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Amaya said it had cut expenses in its London, Sydney and Dublin offices, and expects some job cuts this year.

The owner of gambling websites PokerStars and Full Tilt also said chief executive David Baazov, who was charged with insider trading by Quebec's securities regulator, stepped down on Thursday.

The company said on Friday interim CEO Rafi Ashkenazi replaces Baazov.

Montreal-based Amaya said in March, soon after Baazov was charged, that he was taking an indefinite paid leave of absence.

The regulator brought charges against Baazov about two months after Amaya said it had received a non-binding proposal from him to take the company private.

A special committee of directors at Amaya will continue to "work with respect to the investigation of allegations" made by the regulator, the company said.

The charges followed an investigation into Baazov and other executives in 2014 for trading in Amaya's stock ahead of the company's US$4.9 billion takeover of PokerStars-owner Rational Group.

Ashkenazi has been the CEO of Rational Group since November.

Baazov, who chaired Amaya's board until he went on leave, will not stand for re-election to the board, Amaya said on Friday.

Divyesh Gadhia, who was named interim chairman in March, has been made permanent, the company said.

Amaya's total revenue increased by 10.2 percent to US$285.9 million, as it added nearly 2 million customers in the quarter. Revenue also beat analysts' average estimate of US$272.9 million.

Customer registrations increased to about 103.5 million at the end of the quarter.

Amaya's Toronto-listed shares have risen about 41 per cent since Baazov offered to take the company private.

With files from BNN