HISTORY |
Paddy Power was founded in 1988 by the merger of
three existing Irish high street bookmakers. Nowadays Paddy Power is
Ireland’s largest bookmaker. Their gambling businesses include a
chain of licensed betting offices in Ireland and UK. Online it
offers sports betting, online poker, online bingo and online casino
games. Paddy Power offers Ireland's largest telephone betting
service too, through customers' online betting accounts. Through
this strategy the company has developed a strong reputation as "The
Punter Friendly Bookmaker" and has become renowned for its unique
"Money Back Specials". Paddy Power is also an industry leader in
cutting edge, humourous advertising, examples of which can be viewed
at www.pp-gallery.com. |
COMPANY INFO |
By October 31st 2007 Paddy Power operated a total
of 245 outlets (187 in Ireland and 58 in the UK), market
capitalization at this date was €1334.65m. At the end of 2006,
turnover was €1.8 billion, up 31% on 2005. Operating profit rose to
51% to €45.5 million in the same year. The company also markets its
services in the UK and is a publicly quoted company, listed on both
the Irish and London Stock Exchanges (www.paddypowerplc.com). While
the company specializes in small stakes, fixed odds sports betting,
it also offers odds on a number of non-sporting and novelty markets,
such as election betting and the outcome of popular TV events. In
January 2008, the bookmaker lost US$75,000 in early payout including
betting on the US Presidential Elections, when Obama won the Iowa
caucus and was projected to win the New Hampshire primary. Company's
address: Airton House, Airton Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.
Category evaluation: EXCELLENT |
>>> sub-category: REGULATION
|
'Paddy Power Sportsbetting' is regulated by the Isle of Man
Gambling Supervision Commission under a licence issued under the
Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 on 31 August 2007.
Category evaluation: EXCELLENT
|
ODDS |
Being Ireland's biggest bookmaker and one of the
most traditional and recognizable European bookmakers overall, Paddy
Power can afford to offer odds slightly under the market average.
Fixed odds margin varies from 7% to 11%, depending on the market and
sport. 2-way markets (handicaps, spread, totals, money lines, etc.)
are operated on 7-8 % margins, which makes these odds hardly
competitive unfortunately. Paddy offers many outright markets
though, where some value odds may be found. Odds are released 3-4
days before the event usually, which is standard. Paddy Power don't
change their odds as much as other European bookies do. Sometimes
you can catch good odds on underdogs too, they are better than
favourites odds generally.
Category evaluation: AVERAGE |
>>> sub-category: SOCCER
|
All the things mentioned above counts here too. Margin is between
7-10 % depending on the league and market. Odds are comparatively
stable and usually odds on underdogs bring better value than
favourites. Outright markets are worth checking too, if you like
long-term bets.
Category evaluation: AVERAGE
|
>>> sub-category: US SPORTS
|
US sports aren't Paddy's priority. Their odds on
spreads and totals are mainly 1.83/1.83 style. Margins are in 7-8 %
region.
Category evaluation: POOR
|
OFFER |
Paddy Power offer is satisfactorily large. Sports
offer include: American football, athletics, aussie rules, baseball,
basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, gaelic sports, golf,
greyhounds, handball, horse racing, ice hockey, motor racing, rugby
league, rugby union, snooker, soccer, tennis, volleyball, poker and
rowing. Sports offer doesn't include too many bet types
unfortunately. Only basic betting options (like fixed odds, money
lines, handicaps, etc.) are available for most sports and leagues.
UK popular sports make good exception in general, with various
betting types on offer (up to 70 different options on some events!).
Special bets on politics and different awards competitions are
offered regularly, covering large variety of events in these areas.
Financial bets are the other very strong Paddy's feature. This type
of betting is realized through Paddy's special platform - Financial
Trader (TM). Main categories are currency exchange rates, stock
indices, shares and bonds prices, etc. The platform offers its
customers more or less unique features, unavailable elsewhere. Paddy
Power is known for its wide outright bets offer too, they usually
offer outright bets on every covered league or sporting event.
Category evaluation: GOOD |
>>> sub-category: SOCCER
|
Soccer list on offer includes: all
major International competitions, all major European leagues (UK -
covering almost all the levels of English and Scottish football),
Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany and France - covered down to second
level divisions), Netherlands and Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia,
Switzerland, major North and South American leagues. Overall their
soccer list covers all traditional soccer betting markets but you
won't find many exotic and less known leagues with Paddy Power. UK
markets offer very good variety of betting types, as mentioned
already. You can find specials like corners, goalscorers, scorecast,
cards and penalties bets, etc. This is not the case with most of the
non-UK leagues though. Only most popular betting types are offered
for these - straight fixed odds, European handicaps, double chance
and HT/FT bets. This is compensated by many outright markets on
offer, which definitely deserves a look.
Category evaluation: AVERAGE |
>>> sub-category: US SPORTS
|
All major US sports are covered: American
football (NFL), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), ice hockey (NHL).
Number of betting types on offer is totally satisfactory here,
especially for NHL, MLB and NFL, where up to 20-25 markets are
available for selected games. These include sides and totals spreads
and money lines for full-time, half-time and quarters, winning
margin, teams and players performances, etc. Full spectrum of
outright markets are available here too.
Category evaluation: EXCELLENT
|
>>> sub-category: LIVE BETTING
|
Live betting schedule is accessible through the
'Live betting' tab on top of the betting menu. Paddy's live betting
offer is very good, covering all mainstream sports - football, horse
racing, greyhounds, snooker, tennis, some major US sports events.
Financial 'live' betting is available too. Naturally, football is
most covered sport for live betting. Up to 20 or even more football
matches are available on 'strong' days. Betting types include not
only outcome and total goals, but specials like next corner, next
goalscorer, time of next goal, etc.
Category evaluation: AVERAGE
|
>>> sub-category: CASINO, POKER & GAMES
|
Paddy Power clients have instant access to all
casino games, playable directly through their online platform . All
major categories of casino games are offered: card and table games,
video slots and video poker, progressives, etc. All games can be
played for real money or for fun only, with 'play' money. Poker
players have to download and install a separate client. All major
poker games are offered: Texas Hold'em (Fixed, Pot and No Limit),
Omaha and Stud poker. You can play at cash ring tables, sit'n'go
tables and many tournaments (including freerolls). Paddy's poker
network is a part of the mighty iPoker network, so you'll never miss
opponents . Paddy Power offers different luck and skill games, as
well as lotteries and bingo.
Category evaluation: EXCELLENT
|
BETTING PROCEDURE |
Betting slip is loaded in a separate pop-up window.
Upon adding multiple selections on the bet slip users are given the
choice to bet them as singles or combine them. Rich list of
combinations and systems are available in case of multiple
selections in the slip (unfortunately bankers aren't supported
though). Overall betting procedure is fast, reliable and secure.
Even inexperienced users won't have any difficulties and can start
betting right from the start.
Category evaluation: VERY GOOD |
