#Aaron Rogan

Beware of cheeky-chappies bearing gifts. Paddy Power is the upstart Irish bookie that became a global betting behemoth by crushing the competition, gaming the system, weaponising the internet and outsmarting even its smartest customers. Cut-throat operators are commonplace in the notoriously aggressive arena of commercial gambling, but the most…

A gambler with an addiction problem finally manages an act of self-preservation by closing down his Paddy Power online account. For a time, he is just about coping. Then, out of the blue, a text message pings on his mobile phone. "It's been too long. So here's a £5 FREE BET! Just go along to a PP shop and login (sic) with your rewards card." e…