PointsBet, the Melbourne-based but US-focused betting operator, has announced an expansion of its European operations with the opening of a new HQ in Dublin. 

The office marks the ASX-listed betting and igaming operators first major operational presence in a European country, as well as a strengthening of its presence in the Irish market in particular.

Supported by PointsBet’s recently secured $65.8m investment from financial trading firm Susquehanna International Group (SIG) and a partnership with Irish company Nellie Analytics, the new office will be located in The Eight Building in Dublin’s The Liberties area.

“We see the opening of our new office as a jumping off point for increased local recruitment and engagement activity in Ireland and Europe, and supporting our US teams as well,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet US CEO.

“We intend to grow our investment in the Irish operation into the future, with our newly announced agreement with Dublin-based Nellie Analytics expected to provide additional sophisticated sports analytics and quantitative modelling services to complement PointsBet’s existing capabilities and accelerate our technology roadmap delivery.”

As PointsBet seeks to facilitate greater cross-market collaboration between the well established European and Irish markets and the burgeoning US betting space, the firm’s Dublin HQ will be home to an initial operational team of 70 staff members.

This will include developers, quantitative analysts and product managers, and PointsBet has detailed that plans are in.place for further expansion over the next 12 months.

Further expansion in Ireland follows on from PointsBete’s acquisition – via its regional subsidiary Lockspell – of Banach Technology last year, a betting risk management solutions provider based in the Irish capital. 

“Positioning ourselves among some of the world’s most exciting tech talent in Dublin is a strategic decision that we expect will add further significant economic value in both the Irish and US markets going forward,” Aitken continued.

“We firmly believe that through targeted investment in the creation of skilled high-tech jobs, the development of sustainable local projects and the wider promotion of US Sports in Ireland, that we can develop opportunities for further, mutually important areas of collaboration between US and Irish business.”