SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Irish news sources report that sports betting operator Paddy Power may have presented giftes to North Korean Republic leader – Kim Jong Un. Reports suggest that the Irish gaming operator presented the leader of North Korea with gifts that included Irish Whiskey set.
These gifts may have contravened with current UN sanctions. The bookmaker faced criticism of its PR and media stunt when it sponsored former NBA basketball star – Dennis ‘The Worm’ Rodman on a controversial trip to the republic.
Rodman had brought an Irish Whisky set with a bottle of Jameson, a decanter and two glasses, along with a traditional baby dress and a handbag as gifts for the leader. Paddy Power confirmed that it ‘ had not brought any additional gifts for the leader of North Korea, and that the company had been assured that the gifts did not contravene UN sanctions imposed’.
Dennis Rodman was in North Korea this week as he had organised a friendly basketball game to mark the North Korean leader’s birthday and promote the game of basketball and world peace. Rodman and leader Kim Jong Un are not thought to be friends.
The storm over the gifts to Kim Jong Un erupted after former US consul to Busan, Dennis Halpin, claimed the total cost of birthday gifts brought by Rodman were “reportedly well over $10,000”.
The Paddy Power spokesman responded: “We never comment on budget or costs so I can’t confirm the total value, but it was a fraction of your source’s estimation.”
