Paddy Power will now be accepting bets through Facebook Messenger
The gambling giant is using software designed by Irish firm Onionsack.
DUBLIN-BASED GAMBLING GIANT Paddy Power Betfair will soon allow customers to place bets through Facebook Messenger.
An Irish company called Onionsack has developed a bet messaging platform that allows people to place bets through Facebook’s instant messenger service.
Paddy Power has announced that it will be the first company to use the ‘Onionsack SaaS’ system, which will take the form of a chatbot that will allow people to log in to their Paddy Power account via the app, check their balance and place bets.
Once users install the Paddy Power bot to Messenger, they will be able to log into their betting account through Facebook and “chat” with the bot as they would their friends.
The bot will allow people to check odds, place bets and receive live updates.
In a statement to Fora, Paddy Power said that the new betting page will “sit behind Facebook’s age controls and, in addition, any users must be a registered Paddy Power account holder”.
“Customers must be over the age of 18 to register a Paddy Power account and we have very strict verification controls that ensure that no-one under the age of 18 can bet with Paddy Power,” it said.
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Instant messaging
In a statement, Paddy Power product director Michael Healy said that most of Paddy Power’s customers are on Facebook and this update will make it easier for them to receive push notifications tailored to their interests.
Onionstack chief executive Jonathan Power said that it’s a logical step for Paddy Power since so many of the betting firm’s users are on the social media platform.
“Our transactional bot allows exactly that, providing punters with an easier way of betting through instant messaging,” he said.
“We expect more bookmakers to launch their chatbots in the near future, as it provides a simple way of betting.”
Second attempt
Paddy Power previously looked at using Facebook as a platform for its customers to place bets.
The company launched Paddy Power In-Play, a mobile casino app first available on desktop, in 2013, however it was discontinued in 2014 after it failed to catch on.
The firm is likely hoping that Facebook’s new Messenger service will be the difference for the new product, as users won’t have to download a dedicated app.
Earlier this month Paddy Power also made a move into the US fantasy sports market, spending $19 million to acquire Draft.
