The competition watchdog has launched High Court proceedings against Ladbrokes bookmakers, a month after raids over possible price fixing, writes Helen Bruce.

A spokesperson for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) confirmed the case related to a “criminal investigation under our competition law powers”.

Last month, competition regulators and gardaí raided bookies in an investigation into possible price fixing in the Irish betting industry.

The CCPC spokesperson declined to say yesterday if the two events were linked.

She said: “The case relates to a statutory process initiated by the CCPC under section 33 of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014.

“This is a procedural matter related to a criminal investigation under our competition law powers.
“No further comment can be made at this point.”

Under section 33, applications can be made to the High Court to determine whether certain documents are protected by legal privilege.

Court records show the case taken by the CCPC against Ladbroke (Ireland) Ltd was issued on Wednesday, and will be mentioned before the High Court on June 19.

The application will be made to the judge in charge of competition-related matters.

Last month, the CCPC confirmed it had searched unnamed “businesses active in the betting industry” as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into potential breaches of competition law.

Deals between any businesses to fix the prices that they charge, and other activities that eliminate competition and boost costs to consumers, are criminal offences under Irish law.

Authorised members of the CCPC were accompanied by detectives and members of An Garda Síochána’s National Economic Crime Bureau during the dawn raids.

This is the second investigation of bookmakers in recent years by the competition regulator, the first having taken place in 2023.

Companies convicted of competition law breaches face possible fines and other penalties.

The CCPC said it was searching for information and evidence where it has reason to believe that companies or individuals are not compliant with competition or consumer protection law.

It also urged businesses and individuals who have evidence or information that may help the investigation to come forward.

The CCPC said it could offer immunity and leniency through the operation of its Cartel Immunity Programme in conjunction with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Administrative Leniency Programme.

It also said individuals may therefore avoid criminal prosecution and get immunity from, or reductions in, fines if they reveal their involvement in illegal activity and fully cooperate with a CCPC investigation.

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) said it was co-operating fully with the CCPC investigation and that “anything they have been asked for they have given”.

The IBA’s chief executive officer, Sharon Byrne, said she would be concerned if price fixing or anti-competitive practices were occurring, but that it had never come to her attention.