Betdaq, owned by Irish financier Dermot Desmond, said it is targeting the Asian market, estimated to be worth up to $150bn, with the launch of a Chinese language version of its sports betting service.
Today's announcement comes in advance of the World Cup 2002 which will be held in Japan and Korea.
It marks the culmination of extensive research by Betdaq into the Asian gambling and sports betting market; translation of the site into traditional Chinese and the setting up of a member services centre based in Dublin's International Financial Services Centre. The centre includes native Chinese and Japanese speakers and employs a total of 22 staff.
The Exchange was launched in Europe six weeks ago and has already attracted 1300 members from 42 countries around the world - including Hong Kong and Singapore.
One of Betdaq's principal aims has been to match bets from serious bettors around the world - the Chinese language site will facilitate gamblers in the Asian market to participate fully in the global betting exchange. Please find further details in the release to follow.
'One of Betdaq's principal aims is to bring together serious bettors from around the world to provide a truly global sports betting exchange,' said Chief Executive, Aidan Donnelly.
'The Chinese translation, and full backup with Chinese speaking member service staff, is the first in a range of developments which will position us as a world leader by the time of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.'
It provides Exchange betting facilities on the world's leading sporting events, and is dominated by football which already accounts for nearly 70% of its turnover.
