THE DUBLIN-BASED GAME developer behind titles like Pokerist Texas Poker plans to “aggressively” increase its workforce as it goes for global expansion.
Six-year-old startup KamaGames today announced it expected to add 50 staff over the next year and to double the figure again by the end of 2018.
The IDA-backed company makes poker and other casino games based around apps and social networks, although players use real money or compete for anything of value.
Earlier this year it signed a deal with Manchester United to release a series of titles using the $3 billion club’s branding.
KamaGames CEO Danny Hammett said the company was increasing its headcount as it looked to expand into new territories.
Our business growth plans include game development with exclusive brand partnerships and aggressive global market expansion,” he said.
Its games have tallied over 80 million downloads and have 1 million active users per day, and the company said it would he hiring across all parts of its business – from game design to marketing and finance.
No revenue or profit figures are publicly available for the firm as its structure means it doesn’t need to file annual accounts with the Companies Registration Office. All its shares are held in two Jersey-registered companies.
We selected Ireland for our headquarters for a number reasons – its pro-business environment, robust post-secondary educational system, availability of commercial real estate and most importantly the availability of a highly skilled workforce and a good quality of life for our employees,” Hammett said.
Cluster value
Some of the new recruits will also take part in Google’s Ireland-based AppHub, which was set up to provide a regional “centre of excellence” for app developers.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said the fact KamaGames was collaborating with Google showed the “immense value” of having a cluster of technology companies in the country.
Games developers have previously criticised the government for not doing enough to build the industry in Ireland through supports like those available in the UK.
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