Paddy Power bookmakers, owner of PaddyPowerPoker.com which hosts the annual Irish Poker Open, today confirmed to the Irish Independent it would be interested in a casino licence if “sensible” legislation was introduced to regulate the booming casino sector in Ireland.

The sector, which has about 50 casinos operating as private members clubs to circumvent 1956 legislation, is eagerly anticipating the publication of the Casino Regulation Committee report on regulation in the sector.

Justice minister Dermot Ahern said at the weekend the report would be published soon and is expected to favour regulation of mid-sized casinos. Read the full story here.