How betting firms play the odds for winners and losers

Ireland’s self-regulated gambling industry monitors its customers closely for betting patterns – but it is coming under increasing scrutiny over how it uses that information

A man watches electronic displays at a Paddy Power betting shop: the government has vowed to impose a levy on gambling in the coming years Picture: Bloomberg

A gambler who exhibited signs of addiction recognised by bookmakers was treated as a VIP customer by Paddy Power Betfair, The Sunday Business Post can reveal.

The customer, a professional gambler, set up one account with Paddy Power and another account with Betfair under someone else’s name to evade detection, placing the exact same bets on both accounts.

On Paddy Power, he was given VIP status, which grants special treatment such as trips ...