Colm Meaney and Aidan Gillen to Star in Film About Paddy Power’s Rise

Irish actors Colm Meaney (Miles O’Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish in Game of Thrones) are among the cast of a new film telling the story of Paddy Power, the betting company that grew from an Irish bookmaker into one of the world’s biggest gambling businesses. A Story That Stands Out Brian Gleeson (Jimmy McCavern in Peaky Blinders) and Alex Murphy (Conor MacSweeney in The Young Offenders) will also star in the production, announced by Irish production company Playhouse Studios. The film, titled Paddy Power, is based on Punters: How Paddy Power Bet Billions and Changed Gambling Forever, a book by Business Post journalist Aaron Rogan. The project will explore the rise of the company, which has recently announced it is considering scaling down its retail presence in Great Britain and Ireland, as well as its unconventional advertising strategy and the wider impact of its expansion on the gambling industry. According to the synopsis, the movie tells the story of how one man’s willingness to take risks on bold marketing helped bring online gambling to a global audience, while also looking into the industry’s association with addiction and its consequences for vulnerable players. Peggy Cafferty, chief executive of Playhouse Studios, said the story immediately stood out because of its scale, Irish humor and the determination behind the company’s growth. She described Paddy Power as a business that challenged conventional marketing practices, regularly attracting attention through controversial campaigns and unexpected advertising stunts. From Bookmaker to Global Gambling Giant Paddy Power initially opened its gates to patrons back in 1988 through the merger of three Irish bookmakers. In the decades that followed, the company extended its operations, developing a distinctive public profile and becoming a familiar name in Irish sporting and cultural life. The business later became part of Flutter Entertainment, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has a reported market value of approximately EUR 13 billion ($14.5 billion). Stewart Kenny, one of Paddy Power’s co-founders who managed the company for years, later became a vocal critic of the gambling industry, raising concerns about inadequate regulation and protections for people vulnerable to gambling-related harm. Those issues are expected to form an important part of the film’s narrative. Rogan said seeing his book adapted for the screen was an exciting moment for him as a journalist, describing the opportunity to have his reporting turned into a film as particularly rewarding. He also explained that the company offered an unusual subject for a book because of the contrast between its commercial success, its influence on Irish culture and the growing debate surrounding problem gambling. While the story includes serious themes, Rogan said Paddy Power had also been known for its provocative approach and irreverent work. Further production details, including a release date, have yet to be officially announced.