Irish eyes look to multi-lingual online casinos

[Ian_go]

PADDY Power is considering the launch of a new casino in Ireland as well as the introduction of gaming websites in Italy, Spain and Poland, the company revealed yesterday.

The move into continental Europe comes as European governments come under pressure to open their gambling industries to foreign companies.

Dublin-based Paddy Power, which operates mainly in Ireland and the UK, is seeking potential new markets after starting a German-language website in April, chief executive officer Patrick Kennedy said.

"We are looking at the possibility of introducing other European-language websites," Mr Kennedy said. "The ones we've looked at in the last three or six months have been Spain and Poland."

The company is also considering moving into Italy and may have a presence there within three years, he said.

The European Union this month told France, Italy and Austria to open up gambling to foreign companies in a bid to boost competition in the 25-nation bloc.

Italy is already in the midst of opening up its gaming industry to private organisations by licensing more sports betting and horse racing shops and so-called 'remote gaming' by internet and telephone.

Paddy Power's plans will depend on....more

[Casinomeister]

Dublin-based Paddy Power, which operates mainly in Ireland and the UK, is seeking potential new markets after starting a German-language website in April, chief executive officer Patrick Kennedy said.

More power to them (pun intended). But I'm surprised that they haven't run into serious legal matters here. It's a criminal offense in Germany to target Germans with any unlicensed casinos. Unlicensed = not licensed in Germany. It amazes me how these companies get away with this.

[ace4suited]

Firstly CM they are just "considering it" and secondly

European governments come under pressure to open their gambling industries to foreign companies

so if there is a change in rules (EU competition rules could bring a change here. Then the market would be open. Also it is possible that they would be able to get appropriate licenses in Germany.

Finally they could go ahead anyway and rely on the fact that whilst it might be illegal in germany no action could be taken against them in ireland and if action was taken they could try to make a claim on the basis that the casino regulation rules were invalid because they were against EU competition rules.

I do not think this last arguement would hold up and i do not think paddy power would get involved in this level but it is quite possible that paddy power are doing little more than lobbying and gearing up for a change in the rules.