CANADIAN SPORTS BETTING DEAL FOR PADDY POWER

December 14,2011 : Paddy Power enters Canadian market through partnership with British Columbia Lottery Corporation
 
The Irish land and online gambling group Paddy Power has again extended its influence internationally with a three year agreement with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, the provincial lottery operator in British Columbia, Canada, to supply product, pricing and risk management services to BCLC's online sports betting business from the summer of 2012.
 
BCLC is the only operator permitted under Canadian law to offer sports betting in British Columbia and, in order to obtain the contract, Paddy Power successfully gained approval from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of British Columbia to provide a variety of gaming services.
 
Paddy Power chief executive, Patrick Kennedy, said that BCLC was his company's first lottery partner, and that the agreement was Paddy Power's first North American transaction,  which he described as "…a geography which will be of increasing strategic importance to us in the future."
 
Rhonda Garvey, vice-president eGaming, BCLC, said "We are very excited about our partnership with Paddy Power and the opportunities it will bring to PlayNow.com. Paddy Power's proven expertise and product integration with the PlayNow.com/OpenBet system is essential to providing our players with an unparalleled online sports betting experience."