An online gaming company is recruiting 26 people as it prepares to launch the island’s first ’live dealing’ studio in a ’significant’ investment.

Celton Manx boss Bill Mummery said it will be a ’first’ for the island’s e-gaming industry which accounts for more than 20% of the island’s economy.

The 26 men and women to be recruited locally is a big shot in the arm for the island’s employment in this Covid-19 year.

Some 1,133 men and women were registered as unemployed, the jobless rate being 2.6%, at the end of June.

Executive director Mr Mummery revealed the major business development as he announced yesterday (Monday) that the company has clinched a multi-year partnership with Premier League side Leeds United.

Mr Mummery had hoped to be visiting Leeds United’s base at Elland Road but this has been delayed because of the borders being closed and he said he could not afford to be away from his desk quarantining at home while the ’exciting’ developments were being developed. ’I could not afford 14 days stuck at home.’

He predicted that with an expected boost of 26 more people there should be a total of 75 people working for Celton Manx by the end of the year.

And language is no barrier as the ’live dealers’ will not have to talk as they spin the wheel of the roulette wheel and oversee other casino games played by participants around the world.

The ’studio’ is currently being prepared on the upstairs floor of the Celton Manx base and Mr Mummery said it could go live in October. He praised the island’s regulator at the Gambling Supervision Commission for granting regulatory approval for the move.

opportunity

Asked by the Examiner what it all means for the island he said: ’I think that it’s another opportunity to demonstrate that the Isle of Man is best of breed when it comes to the quality and substance of the e-gaming sector that is here.

’There are three significant developments that are currently taking place.’

The third development on top of the Leeds United deal and the round-the-clock ’TV studio’ style live dealing room, will be the installation of around 130 solar panels confirming what Mr Mummery describes as the firm’s ’green credentials’.

He said: ’These projects not only underpin our long-term business strategy but also serve to project a positive image for the Isle of Man worldwide.’

He said the 26 new jobs ’serve our expanding global online gaming product’.

Celton Manx operates two brands SBOBET and SBOTOP.

He said the ’live dealing’ capability was another important step in the island’s e-gaming operation helping to put the eyes of the world on us.

The sponsorship, the largest commercial deal in the West Yorkshire club’s history, will see the SBOTOP logo feature on the front of the side’s white shirt from the start of the 2020/21 season.

It will mean millions of television viewers around the world will see the Manx company’s online sports book advertised as Leeds plays teams such as Liverpool and the two Manchester sides, City and United in games during the forthcoming season.

Leeds won promotion to the top flight again recently after winning the Championship title. Leeds were last in the top-flight 16 years ago in the 2003/04 season.

Mr Mummery said: ’We are thrilled to enter into a relationship with Leeds United, a club with a rich heritage and an enormous fan base.

’We have experience of working in the Premier League and this strategic partnership allows us to work closely with the club as they enter into this next phase of their history, back in the top flight.’

Celton Manx used to have a long-standing agreement with another top flight side, West Ham United.

The SBOTOP logo will feature on the front of Leeds United’s new Adidas kit, due to launch later this month.

It will also be on training wear, the digital perimeter information boards and on the backdrop to media interviews.

Mr Mummery, who has a photograph of himself with soccer genius Pele on his office sideboard said the sponsorship is a ’multi-year’ partnership.

Contractual arrangements meant he could not discuss the figures involved in the ’significant’ sum.

A soccer fan himself Mr Mummery disclosed that he is long-time supporter of Grimsby Town.