If it seems the bookies always win, maybe the best bet is to buy into one!

'8 Ball' started a thread on this stock 18 months ago and nobody seems to have taken notice. Can't understand why - this has shown itself to be a solid grower. The share price has more than doubled in that last 18 months, tripled in 3 years and is up over 40% this year. What's more, it has just announced its intention to expand into online poker which is a potential goldmine (look at Sportingbet(SBT) this week which has bought into poker big time!)




Website at www.paddypowerplc.com

Here is some of the press coverage this week following its announcement re online poker:


Paddy Power shares soar on new UK law
Bizworld, Tuesday, October 19 17:30:38

"...Shares in Irish bookmaker, Paddy Power, jumped 15c to 997 on the Irish Stock Exchange after the UK Government brought in sweeping new gambling laws... ..Paddy power will also likely welcome news that the new law will allow racecourse betting on Good Friday and Christmas Day for the first time..."

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Paddy Power to Offer Online Poker
25 October 2004

IRELAND – As reported by the (Ireland) Sunday Business Post: "Bookmaker Paddy Power is set to offer online poker as part of the company's expansion of its internet activities which are becoming increasingly profitable for the Irish company... .."An online poker facility, which would match up players with other users online in a real live game, is expected to be available by the end of the year or early in 2005... ..."…The availability of poker should help boost revenues at Paddy Power's online division, which is already exceeding targets…"

(CasinoCityTimes.com, 25 Oct)
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By Abigail, at OnlineCasinoNews.com USA (this week)

Leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is set to add a facility for online poker to its site. The already prospering company is looking to expand its offerings and tap into the lucrative and still growing online poker market. The expectation is that the additional area should further boost the revenue earned from the online branch of the company, which is already exceeding targets... ..The communications manager for the company said of the plan “Online poker is a logical extension of our current activities. We hope to have it ready in the coming months.” Financial results for the online branch of the company are very strong so far this year. For the first half of the year operating profits were valued at e3.6 million, far exceeding the original forecast of e1.8 million for the entire year. The online casino section of the site is thought to have contributed e1 million of that profit... ..These strong figures have been produced before the full expansion of the site into the British market. Paddy Power have been slowly expanding into the British market over the last two years, and will continue to do so. With this expanding of the reach of the site, alongside the expansion of their products, the financial results should continue to be strong for Paddy Power

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The company regards itself as being in the entertainment business and takes an irreverent approach in its promotional material, as evidenced on this page of its website: www.paddypowerplc.com/adpr.html - Click on images there to enlarge.

StockMarketWire.com
Paddy Power has booked a record FY pretax profit up 21% to 166.6m euros, from 141m euros, with a full-year dividend of 152 cents a share, up 13% from 135 cents.

Net revenue totalled 881.6m euros, up 18% from 746m euros.

CEO Andy McCue said 2014 was an excellent year for Paddy Power with robust double digit growth in stakes, revenues and profits, and a marked increase in customer acquisition.

"We are strongly positioned in the key growth areas of online and mobile, whilst also benefitting from a differentiated and resilient retail presence. Our distinctive brands and deeply rooted marketing capability are core assets.

"As I look ahead, the pace of change in the sector and in the wider consumer environment is intensifying. We continually develop and adapt to anticipate the needs of customers and maintain an edge in the market.

"Time and again we see that product is the key factor in attracting and retaining customers. We have re-organised the business to significantly sharpen our focus on product differentiation and innovation, and to increase in-house development.

"This, combined with clear investment priorities, will pave the way for sustained performance and market leadership.

"This year has started well, including a positive impact from recent euro depreciation."