Anyone interested in sports gambling in Ireland will know the name of the biggest bookmaker in Ireland. Paddy Power was founded in 1988 and now operates approximately 300 betting shops spread throughout Ireland and the UK. Paddy Power also owns Sportsbet, a pool betting service in Australia, and has recently signed a deal with British Columbia Lottery Corporation which will expand their growth into the Canadian gambling market. Today has seen the publication of their full year results, which in spite of the current economic situation in Ireland show a significant increase in pre-tax profits. Although there has clearly been a drop in gambling turnover through the betting shops due to personal financial pressures, this has been offset by increased internet gambling and a rise in mobile phone gambling. Sports gambling on the internet and gambling on casino games at their online casino are both growth areas for Paddy Power, and their expansion overseas is now beginning to pay off, and we would expect the company to continue to look away from their home gambling market in Ireland for further expansion opportunities. In these current difficult times it is good to be able to report on an Irish company that appears to be doing well, and for those of us who follow the fortunes of all the major players in the online gambling business, it is also pleasing that sports gambling online and online casino gambling continue to buck the downward trend which we are seeing on the high street. If you’ve not yet visited our biggest bookmaker’s internet site, click on our link and have a look, we think you’ll be impressed.