Paddy Power has confirmed that its charitable initiatives tied to the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship have generated more than £1.1 million in donations.
The centerpiece of the effort, dubbed the “Even Bigger 180” campaign, saw the operator pledge £1,000 for every maximum score of 180 recorded during the tournament at Alexandra Palace.
Hitting the Mark for Prostate Cancer
The final tally resulted in a massive £1,127,000 donation to Prostate Cancer UK. The funds reflect the total number of maximums hit by players throughout the competition, driving engagement with fans while raising money for a critical cause. The donation was formally presented at the conclusion of the event by cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, adding significant visibility to the initiative.
Supporting Vision Research
In a parallel initiative, the operator donated €15,000 to the Cure ADOA Foundationfollowing a strong performance by player Ryan Searle, who reached the semi-finals. Searle competes with Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive vision loss.
Throughout the darts tournament, Paddy Power adjusted its on-site branding to highlight the condition, fulfilling a pledge to raise awareness. “The initiative focused on increasing awareness of the condition while supporting related medical research,” the operator stated, noting that Searle has previously spoken publicly about the challenges of competing at the highest level while managing the condition.
Regulatory Backdrop
The charitable success comes during a period of intense scrutiny for Paddy Power’s parent company, Flutter Entertainment. Earlier this month, Paddy Power and Betfair agreed to a £2 million settlement with the UK Gambling Commission over historic social responsibility failures identified between August 2023 and May 2024.
The regulator emphasized that while charity work is positive, licensees “must demonstrate sustained improvements in customer monitoring, intervention processes and governance, regardless of charitable activity or broader corporate initiatives.” The settlement serves as a reminder that corporate social responsibility does not offset the requirement for strict regulatory compliance.
