Paddy Power
Betfair is set to launch a betting exchange in
New Jersey
in the first key expansion of its
US
business since the merger that formed the group.
Paddy Power and Betfair joined forces last month to form a €10 billion gambling multinational with operations in Ireland, Europe, Australia and the US.
Chief executive Breon Corcoran confirmed that it plans to launch a betting exchange in New Jersey this year after the state's Racing Commission licensed it in November.
He told analysts yesterday that the “start-up investment would be relatively modest” but that it would require marketing spend as research shows that only a minority of US racing fans understood the concept.
Betting exchanges allow punters to bet against each other rather than against a bookmaker. They either take odds against a horse winning in the normal way or offer odds against them – known as laying.
The Irish company’s New Jersey exchange will be the first such launch in any US jurisdiction.
Results for the two companies that formed the group show they generated combined operating profits last year of €283.5 million.
Mr Corcoran noted that 2016 began well. “The revenue growth momentum has continued and trading across the group is in line with our expectations,” he said.
Paddy Power grew its pre-tax profits 8 per cent to €179.7 million from €166.6 million in its last year as a standalone company. Net revenues rose 24 per cent to €1.1 billion – passing €1 billion for the first time – from €882 billion.
Taxes
Operating profits grew 10 per cent to €180 million from €164 billion after the company paid €66 million in new taxes and product fees.
Its punters staked €8.65 billion with the Irish company during the year, 23 per cent more than the €7 billion they bet in 2014.
Paddy Power’s Australian on-line business, Sportsbet, put in the strongest performance, growing operating profits by 52 per cent to €79.5 million.
Costs rose by €6 million, most of which consisted of increases in payments to racing authorities in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.
Racing New South Wales and other bodies will follow suit this year, adding a further €3 million to costs.
Operating profits at its Irish, British and Italian online divisions dipped 3 per cent to €73 million.
Its chain of Irish bookie shops, the group’s original business, grew their operating bottom line by 31 per cent to €20.3 million, aided by new rules allowing them to stay open until 9pm six days a-week, all year round.
Paddy Power opened 14 new betting shops in the Republic last year at an average cost of €568,000 each.
Its UK retail chain grew its operating profits by 10 per cent to €23.4 million despite paying an extra €5 million duty on gaming machines. The group opened 21 new shops at an average cost of €391,000 each.
Overall, the UK contributed €73 million to group operating profits, Australia added €79.5 million while the Republic, Italy and other countries combined accounted for €28 million.
