The local rivals are able to offer London wages and full remote work to Sky Bet staff based up North, which is managing to persuade them to move.  

Grant said Sky Bet is offering flexible opportunities to staff, to try and keep 1,700 employees content.  

He said: “Staff are telling us they want greater flexibility but many still want the office. We are just going to encourage people to get the right balance that works for them.” 

Sky Bet is preparing to open its new headquarters in Leeds' Wellington Place and the Flutter UK & Ireland CEO says the new office will have 60% fixed desks, and that flexibility was “the hallmark of the design of our new office.” 

The office is expected to be up and running by September, and will operate on a hybrid model to ensure it meets the flexibility requirements employees desire.  

Grant added that despite some of its workers being poached by businesses in London, Sky Bet remains a “hugely important” asset to the Flutter Group.  

Grant said: “Sky Bet is the largest operator in the market in terms of customer volume; we are number two in the market in revenue and probably pushing very close to being number one. Sky Bet will continue to be a flagship of Flutter.” 

As for the future of the gambling industry, the CEO says consolidation has likely peaked as “there are not many deals left; the market has changed.” 

He added: “I would say we are approaching the peak if we have not reached it already.”