BOYLE Sports is deepening its commitment to its Serbia-based technology hub, stating that the centre offers ‘exceptional’ opportunities as the firm continues to grow.
Over the last 12 months, the omni-channel operator has seen 65 new people walk through the doors of its Belgrade office, doubling down on its strategic goal of expanding its domestic workforce by 30% over the next few months.
The company added that Belgrade itself is a major hub for the gambling sector, hosting a varied mix of both industry knowledge, technical infrastructure, and talent.
Jim Parkins, Chief Technology Officer at BOYLE Sports, said: “Serbia gives us access to exceptional technology talent, with the development experience and gaming-sector knowledge we need to support our continued growth. We have been deliberate in how we have built the team, and are delighted with the calibre of people on board.
“AI is changing how technology teams work and we are embracing that while simultaneously continuing to invest in people, because the strongest businesses will be those that combine smart technology with talented teams who know how to apply it.”
Outside of Serbia, the Ireland-headquartered bookmaker has also seen recent success in its home market and the UK, despite ongoing regulatory pressures – particularly a new tax regime in the latter market.
Earlier this month, BOYLE Sports opened its 400th retail shop at Ireland’s historic Galway Racecourse. This comes amid a general wind down of retail activity by some brands across both the UK and Ireland, such as Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.
There has also been speculation that UK&I-facing companies would cut back their marketing presence in horse racing due to the impact of the new British taxes.
Speaking exclusively with SBC News, Vlad Kaltenieks, Chief Executive Officer of BOYLE Sports, commented: “So 400 stores for us is a great milestone.
“We timed it to make sure it opened at the iconic Galway Racecourse, because the heritage for BOYLE Sports is really Ireland, and we have been part of the fabric of horse racing here for so many years.
“I think, for sure, the UK is a huge opportunity for us. The market is going to get reshaped.
“You can see some big moves there as well – some brands are entering and others are exiting, but I’m positioning the business to be in the best possible spot to capture the opportunity – and capture it in a responsible way.
“We can get bogged down in negative views, but I think one of my tasks as a leader is to be grounded, and find a way to position ourselves to be able to capitalise on any opportunities.”
