PokerStars is very happy to be based in the island and to be continuing to invest here, says a senior figure in the eGaming company.

The global giant is looking to hire another 100 people to add to the growing headcount, which currently stands at just under 400.

And the company is hoping many of the new recruits will be home-grown from the Isle of Man.

In a wide-ranging interview, Eric Hollreiser, vice president of corporate communications, told Business News:

lThe island is an important ’hub’ for eGaming around the world with lots of expertise and knowledge based here.

lThe company’s sponsorship of the Senior TT, the ’blue riband’ race at the TT is a ’jewel in the crown’ in local backing for the island community.

lThe core activity remains poker but there is also a growing online casino and sports betting aspect to the business.

lThe company will be looking to expand in untapped areas such as India

lAnd Mr Hollreiser said that as PokerStars has expanded into other areas not everyone employed there is necessarily expected to know how to play poker.

American Mr Hollreiser, 52, lives inthe island with his wife and family.

Asked by Business News: ’Is it an urban myth that everybody at PokerStars has to play poker? Mr Hollreiser replied: ’It is probably a bit of an urban myth at this point.

’There are lots and lots of people who really enjoy playing poker and I think back in the day it really was almost part of the interview process. But as we have expanded and got into different businesses [such as the sportsbook and casino] it is important that we have people who are expert in that business.

’Poker will always be a part of our DNA, it will always be at the core of the company, so we will always maintain that ’’pokerness.’’ ’

Mr Hollreiser spoke to Business News shortly after Chief Minister Howard Quayle officially opened new office space on the ground floor of Quay West, Bridge Road, Douglas, to accommodate the growing number of staff. Mr Hollreiser said: ’We are really looking to expand.’

As part of the company being a major global consumer facing company ’you get to bring on celebrities and

athletes who can represent the brands.’

For instance the business had recently brought on board and forged a partnership with an American comedian called Kevin Hart.

’He’s a passionate poker player and he’s decided that he thinks poker needs to be more fun. So he’s going to add the fun.’

PokerStars moved to the Isle of Man in 2005 setting up its headquarters in Douglas Bay Complex on Onchan Head, later buying the building with stunning views of the bay in 2012.

Isle of Man staff numbers have increased dramatically since it moved to the island 12 years ago growing from just five employees in 2005 to just under400 now.

Around the world, there is more than 1,900 staff .

Mr Hollreiser admitted the headquarters is ’bursting at the seams’ hence the opening of the new office.

He added the fact that PokerStars was looking to recruit more than 100 people shows that PokerStars is still looking to recruit a high number of staff in the Isle of Man.

India

Mr Hollreiser said the United States market was ’a huge potential market for not just poker but all of our services.

’Right now there are only three states that have online poker in a licensed way and we only operate in New Jersey so that’s a huge opportunity. We think that will be a state by state and gradual process.

’But more immediately we have talked about India and Asia as big worth opportunities for us.

’In India we are expecting to launch by the end of this year.

’That’s obviously a huge market, a huge population and a growing middle class.Recent figures are that there is something in the order of 200 million smartphones and mobile is an increasingly important part of our business because that is how people are consuming entertainment and consuming products, and so much is happening on mobile devices.

’We think that is a great potential market for us.’

Mr Hollreiser said the new office at Quay West is in a ’great spot. We had been on the look out for a while for a place for our growth and I think we will have to continue this if we are successful in hiring another 100 or so extra people.’

Asked how hopeful he was of 100 people being found he said: ’We will get there, it’s only a matter of time.

’Since a lot of our growth has been in casino and sports betting it is [in] a lot of those types of roles, some of which we can find in the island and some of which it is more difficult.

’As many as we can, either recruitment on island or recruiting people to the island, we will do that.’

TT senior

In addition, PokerStars supports many local causes and events and has been the title sponsor of the TT Senior Race for many years. Mr Hollreiser said the TT senior was a ’jewel in the crown’ as regards sponsorship.

Mr Hollreiser explained that with the advent of online casino and sports betting revenue for poker was ’by design’ decreasing.

As at the last quarter, just under 70 per cent of revenue came from poker, he said.

’Three years that was 99 per cent.

’So by design it will continue to go down as we develop the casino and sports betting businesses.’

Sports markets include horse racing and soccer.

Mr Hollreiser said this year, 2017, they were projecting total revenues of about 1.2 billion US dollars.

’A lot of the larger growth is coming from casino and sports betting.

’We now have the largest online casino in terms of traffic among all of our publicly traded competitors and that’s done without any external marketing.

’We are doing it all based upon our existing customer base of poker players.

’We are building what we hope and expect are really competitive businesses in online casino and sports betting.

growth

’The growth in our office space is helping to fuel that growth.’

Mr Hollreiser said that ’first and foremost we are very happy here in the Isle of Man.

’The island, particularly from an eGaming perspective, is really growing into its own and we have got colleagues and competitors based here.

’Increasingly we are finding, while still it can be a challenge to find the kind of expertise and experience in our business, because we now have become much more of a hub for eGaming around the world, there is more expertise based here.

’This makes it a little more easier for us to find local talent and that’s always our preference.

’The island does benefit from bringing more people over and we do, where necessary bring people over, like myself.

’We are viewed as a great employer and that’s great for the Manx economy.’

Mr Hollreiser was born in New York City but has lived in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Seattle and just prior to coming to the Isle of Man he lived in Los Angeles.

’My wife and kids are here. My son has just had his leavers ceremony from King William’s College.

’I think I’m still a comeover. I’d like to believe that at some point I will become a stayover but I will leave that to others to judge.

’I really enjoy being here.’

committed

He said PokerStars was ’absolutely committed’ to staying in the island.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK officially opened the new office.

Mr Quayle said: ’It is always a pleasure to celebrate success and the opening of these offices marks a double success.

’First and foremost it is a reflection of the continuing global success of PokerStars.

’The second success is that of the Isle of Man itself, in providing a great base for global leaders like PokerStars.

’Maintaining an island of enterprise and opportunity is a top priority in our Programme of Government.

’We see the role of government as ensuring the right environment for business to flourish.

’Flourishing is exactly what has happened to PokerStars since it set up its headquarters in the Isle of Man, and I congratulate you on your continuing success.’

Eric Hollreiser, far right, with CEO Rafi Ashkenazi, centre, and Chief Minister Howard Quayle