Flutter Entertainment reaffirms commitment to Dublin HQ
Conor Grant dismisses speculation over relocation as he delves into safer gambling impact ahead of his departure
Outgoing Flutter UK and Ireland (UK&I) CEO Conor Grant has confirmed the operator will retain its Dublin headquarters despite rumours of a move overseas as the group continues to expand.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Grant said the Irish capital would continue to be the hub for the operator, despite its successes in the US via its FanDuel brand and growing international presence.
Grant, who is set to be replaced by Ian Brown in the coming months as he heads for a sabbatical, said Ireland was the “cultural heart” of the group.
Flutter employs around 3,000 people in Ireland, with 1,400 of those in retail shops, with Grant praising the staff for developing systems that are used by the group’s global tech teams.
Elsewhere, Grant revealed Flutter’s UK&I division had spent almost £150m on safer gambling measures since 2021, as the arm continues to feel the pinch thanks to regulatory headwinds.
Grant said the firm had spent £48m in H1 2022, along with a further £93m in 2021.
Flutter has implemented a range of affordability measures, including a £500 deposit limits for the under 25s and the group’s Play Well initiative.
Touching on safer gambling, Grant said: “Yes, we’ve taken some pain but we think that this is absolutely the right thing to do, and we think everyone else is going to have to do the same thing eventually.
“It’s very simple for me, it’s about building a sustainable business. We don’t want customers for 10 minutes, we want them for 10 years,” he added.
Earlier this year, Grant spoke to EGR regarding Flutter’s responsible gambling strategy in an exhaustive interview.
Grant is currently supporting Brown, the former CEO of Booking.com’s Trips division, in his transition to become CEO of Flutter UK&I.