Paddy Power Betfair Merger Leads to Closing Gibraltar Office

Paddy Power Betfair has closed its offices in Gibraltar as part of the streamlining of operations resulting from the merger of the two gambling companies. Staff at the office will be moved to Dublin or London. The firm also surrendered its Gibraltar license. The move comes as Gibraltar continues to grapple with the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Paddy Power Betfair has closed its Gibraltar office opting to transfer about 20 employees there to the firm’s Dublin and London offices.

The firm also surrendered its online gaming license for the Gibraltar jurisdiction. The move is being called a simplifying of the firm’s operations since the merger of Paddy Power and Betfair. Last year the firm made a similar move by closing offices on the Isle of Man.

The firm did not cite concerns over the UK’s leaving the European Union as a factor.

Gibraltar’s government said it had “a great working relationship” with Paddy Power Betfair, but understood the move. However, the company also noted concerns over Gibraltar’s role as an online gambling center following the UK’s Brexit vote. The government said that “whatever Brexit may produce for Gibraltar, Government will adapt its licensing and regulatory arrangements to ensure we remain the premier remote gambling jurisdiction.”

Recent Articles

History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

On August 23, 2017, Dodgers starter Rich Hill lost both a no-hitter and the game on a single pitch in a 1-0 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. Hill carried a perfect game into the 9th inning before an error broke it up, though he retired the next three batters to keep the no-hitter intact. Returning for the 10th inning in a scoreless tie, Hill surrendered a walk-off home run on a 2-1 pitch to Pittsburgh leadoff hitter Josh Harrison.

On This Day In Sports History

On August 22, 1951, St. Louis Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne tied a major league record by issuing 16 walks in a 3-1, 13-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox at Sportsman's Park. Byrne faced 63 batters, struck out five, left 22 men on base, and even drove in St. Louis's only run with a fifth-inning double. Boston secured the victory in the top of the 13th behind a Ted Williams single and four two-out walks, including a bases-loaded pass to opposing pitcher Leo Kiely, who pitched 12 1/3 innings for the win.