STS buys up third of Betsys owner Greep

STS has taken a 50% stake in Greep, the owner of leading Central European software supplier Betsys, after investing into the company.

The Polish operator said it had decided to take part-ownership of the Czech-based supplier in order to gain “greater independence” – Betsys currently supplies the likes of STS and Czech operator Sazka with retail and online betting and gaming solutions.

“Only the best European companies from our field may pride themselves on having their own bookmaker system,” Mateusz Juroszek, the President of STS, said.

“This is successive competitive advantage of STS that outdistances us with regard to remaining operators in Poland – already, we have been the unchallenged leader of Polish market.

“Uninterruptedly, we invest in modern solutions for our players. The investment in the company Greep also allows us to think about the development outside borders of Poland,” he added.

Greep, which employs 48 people, also has an office in London while other clients include Slovak operators SYNOTtip and Tipsport.

And Greep president Jiri Najman said the STS investment could lead to the company opening a development centre in Poland.

“Integration of Greep with STS not only constitutes confirmation of high quality of our services, but first and foremost it allows us to extend our competences in remarkably prospective sector of solutions for bookmakers‘ field of operation,” Najman said.

“Obtaining an investor such as STS means predictability of development and strengthening the market position for the entire company. Due to the transaction, we will consider opening of common development centre in Poland,” he added.

STS is expected to face stiffer competition in its home market after Polish authorities relaxed its licensing framework, enabling foreign operators to gain a licence without a physical presence in the country.

Last month, GVC-owned bwin informed customers that it had applied for a licence and said it expected to enter the market shortly.