Dawn raids on betting industry businesses as part of criminal probe into potential breaches of competition law

Officers from An Garda Síochána’s National Economic Crime Bureau have been working with the consumer watchdog to carry out “unannounced searches” of businesses active in the betting industry.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is now appealing for information for anyone who knows about possible anti-competitive practices in the industry, and may be able to offer “cartel immunity” to those who cooperate with its investigation.

The Irish Independent first reported on the operation on Thursday.

In a statement today, the CCPC said that it had used its power to carry out the raids, with search warrants from the District Court.

“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. These searches are commonly referred to as “dawn raids”,” it said.

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The CCPC said it is “ urging businesses and individuals who have evidence or information that may help this investigation to come forward,” including through a confidential website that it runs for whistleblowers.

“The CCPC also operates a Cartel Immunity Programme, in conjunction with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and an Administrative Leniency programme. Individuals may 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,” it said.

“The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in Ireland. Competition law prohibits anti-competitive agreements between two or more independent businesses, such as agreements to fix prices, share markets, or restrict output. Competition law also forbids firms which hold a dominant position from engaging in abusive practices, such as predatory pricing or refusal to supply. Part of the CCPC’s wide remit is to enforce Irish and EU competition law by investigating suspected breaches of these prohibitions.

As this investigation is ongoing, the CCPC cannot provide any further comment at this time.”