Episode details
Available for over a year
When you place a bet online, the chances are it will be processed in Gibraltar - the tiny British overseas territory on the tip of Spain. Gibraltar is a major hub for gambling firms, and not just because it offers tax breaks. In the 90s the major British betting brands started moving over to Gibraltar, and thanks to low tax, the rise of football and innovations in online betting - Gibraltar is now the centre of innovation and tech in the industry. In the second episode of Changing the Odds, Lydia Thomas who's reported on the industry for a decade travels to Gibraltar to meet gambling industry innovators and find out how British companies like Skybet, Bet365, Betfred, William Hill and Ladbrokes led the charge in developing online gambling platforms. Alongside her is Stewart Kenny, who founded Paddy Power in the 80s, he explains how his business saw the potential in online gambling but he started to worry about the impact it might be having on people who had gambling addictions. British companies led the way in developing online gambling after the 2005 Gambling Act liberalised betting - but what have been the consequences of that Act? Lydia and Stewart investigate the treasure trove of data companies hold on its customers, and how it's used to keep players spending. But, could it have been used to spot potential problem gamblers? Stewart thinks so. Presenter: Lydia Thomas Producer: Lydia Thomas and Richard McIlroy Main Contributor: Stewart Kenny Assistant Producer: Emma Smith Technical Producer: Michael Smith
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