Gardaí and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission conducted a series of coordinated dawn raids against Irish bookmakers.

Ireland.- Officers from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and local detective units have conducted a series of dawn raids against Irish bookmakers. The raids yesterday  are related to a probe into possible price-fixing in the betting sector.

It’s unclear how many betting shops were raided, but the CCPC has said it had reason to believe “companies or individuals” had breached Irish competition law, which prohibits anti-competitive arrangements between independent businesses, including agreements to share markets, fix prices or limit output. Firms with a dominant position must not use abusive practices like predatory pricing or refusal to supply.

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) has responded. It said in a statement that is has “consistently operated in full compliance” with legal requirements and will “continue to do so”. It also pledged to co-operate with any investigation.

It said: “We will also continue to fully co-operate with any authority seeking our assistance. As the matter is a live investigation with the CCPC, we are unable to provide further comment at this time”.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is appealing for information from the public about possible anti-competitive practices in the gambling industry. It urged people to make contact including via a confidential website that it runs for whistleblowers and said it may offer “cartel immunity” to people who cooperate with its investigation.

This means informants may avoid criminal prosecution or get more leniant treatment if they reveal involvement in illegal activity and cooperate with the investigation.

The watchdog, which gained District Court search warrants for the raids, said: “The CCPC has the power to carry out unannounced searches of business premises and private homes with a search warrant issued by the District Court. The CCPC will search for information and evidence where they have reason to believe that companies or individuals are not compliant with competition or consumer protection law.

March saw the launch of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which was created under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 approved last October. The regulator is currently taking expressions of interest in new Irish gambling licences.