SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Irish betting firms are under official investigation for potential breaches of anti-competitive activity amid a regulatory overhaul of the industry.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), alongside members of the Garda’s National Economic Crime Bureau Bureau, conducted what the agency described as ‘dawn raids’ on betting businesses this morning.
It is not quite clear which business law enforcement targeted, and the CPCC states that it cannot provide any further comment due to the investigation being ongoing. The only revelation available so far is that the investigation concerns possible breaches of anti-competition law.
Irish media reports, however, have suggested the investigation could concern price fixing, though this is only speculation. The CPCC’s stated remit is to enforce Irish and EU competition law, including ensuring that agreements between two or more independent businesses do not fix prices, share markets or restrict output.
The Republic of Ireland is home to multiple international and local bookmakers, ranging from the likes of multinational heavyweight Flutter Entertainment to local independents like Cill Dara Betting Limited or Tyther Bookmakers, as well as countless on-course bookies across the nation’s 24 racecourses.
As such, it is hard to gauge which bookmakers in question the CPCC and Garda may be investigating and which could have been raided. SBC News reached out to the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) and received the following statement.
“The Irish Bookmakers Association has consistently operated in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements and will continue to do so.
“We will also continue to fully co-operate with any authority seeking our assistance. Unfortunately, as the matter is a live investigation with the CCPC, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Thank you for your understanding.”
Investigations into anti-competition law breaches in the betting industry are not exactly uncommon. A notable investigation across the Irish Sea, for example, has seen the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigate Spreadex over its bid to acquire a competitor, Sporting Index.
The development comes at a significant time for Irish betting, however. The country is currently in the process of implementing the recommendations of the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024, modernising its regulations to meet the demands of the digital age.
This included setting up the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), a new independent regulator. The regulator has already begun some activities, but will take on its full regulatory remit early next year.
