Yaspa opens Leeds hub to boost iGaming payments

Yaspa, a United Kingdom fintech specialising in cutting-edge payment processing and identity verification for the iGaming industry, has revealed plans to establish a new technology hub in Leeds. This strategic move marks another significant step in the company’s rapid expansion, following a recent $12 million investment aimed at driving growth in the United States and other international markets.

Founded in 2017, Yaspa has earned recognition for its ability to combine open banking technology and artificial intelligence to streamline payments and compliance for regulated industries. The company’s flagship solution, Intelligent Payments, is designed to process transactions in real time, enhance customer verification, and provide businesses with actionable intelligence to improve operational efficiency and cash flow.

With an established presence in Shoreditch, London, Yaspa is now setting its sights on Leeds as the location for its second UK office, citing the city’s strong reputation for software engineering talent and its existing concentration of major gambling operators.

Leeds chosen for its talent and industry presence

The decision to open the new hub in Leeds was driven by a combination of factors, including the city’s reputation as a hub for digital and financial services, its connectivity, and the presence of major players in the iGaming sector such as Flutter Entertainment’s Sky Betting & Gaming, Paddy Power, Betfair, and Evoke’s William Hill brands.

Yaspa’s Chief People Officer Chris Watkins explained the strategic thinking:

“We see Leeds as the ideal location to open our second UK office, with access to a strong pool of software engineering talent. It also has a strong reputation for talent with experience in iGaming, thanks to the companies that are also located there.

“Our office is at a premium address, just a few metres from Leeds train station. It’s a serviced office, with stunning views across Leeds centre from our sixth-floor office, coupled with amazing services to ensure Yaspa employees have the best experience possible when working onsite.”

Recruitment drive for senior engineering talent

Yaspa intends to hire an initial group of 10 experienced backend Java developers in the next few weeks, aiming to grow the Leeds-based engineering team to 20 professionals by the close of 2025. This new team will focus primarily on building technology to support Yaspa’s planned expansion into the US market.

The recruitment strategy emphasises not only technical skill but also alignment with the company’s culture, which prioritises collaboration, transparency, and innovation. Watkins noted that while Yaspa supports flexible and remote work arrangements, it has found that a hybrid model delivers the best results in terms of teamwork and professional development.

“We’re growing quickly but we’ll walk before we can run. The immediate goal is to get a squad of mid to senior level engineers on board. They will focus on building the US product for us. As soon as that squad is at full capacity, we’ll hire for a second squad, taking us up to 20 within the year.

“Although we’re open to remote working, we’ve noticed a hybrid working model offers the best collaboration for success and employee growth. At Yaspa, we’re really big on culture, collaboration and transparency, so we want people regularly working together in-person.”

Leadership under David Turner

Heading the new Leeds office is David Turner, Yaspa’s newly appointed Head of Engineering. Turner brings extensive experience from his time at William Hill, where he played a key role in the introduction of automated sports trading and later served as Head of Retail Development. His previous role as Chief Technical Officer at Glean saw him build and scale a cross-functional delivery team in Leeds from five to 40 staff members.

Turner expressed enthusiasm about his new role:

“When I heard about the opportunity to join Yaspa, it felt like the perfect role for me. I am passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where engineers can do their best work and this role allows me to do exactly that – building a talented team in Leeds while delivering the technology to support Yaspa’s next stage of growth.

“What excites me most is that Yaspa has already done the hard part. It has found its value proposition, proved it works and is now scaling. My focus will be on growing the engineering team rapidly, with the aim of having two strong squads in place by the end of the year, initially dedicated to the US proposition, while making the most of the chance to apply best practice from the start.

“Yaspa has the momentum, the vision and the team culture to make a real impact, and I am looking forward to helping take that even further.”

Expanding into the United States

Yaspa’s recent $12 million investment, led by Discerning Capital, has provided the company with the resources to accelerate its expansion strategy. As part of its expansion strategy, Yaspa is establishing a US entity in Atlanta, Georgia, where it intends to launch a dedicated office.

The company aims to leverage its Intelligent Payments solution in the US online gambling and digital payments market, sectors which are experiencing rapid growth and increased regulatory oversight. Yaspa believes its focus on real-time payments and compliance-driven identity verification will provide a competitive edge in these markets.

The role of technology in iGaming payments

Yaspa’s Intelligent Payments platform uses open banking connections to allow instant transfers between players and gaming operators, reducing payment delays and improving user experience. This technology also enables operators to meet regulatory obligations related to anti-money laundering (AML) and responsible gambling.

In addition to real-time payments, Yaspa integrates advanced analytics to assess player behaviour, helping operators detect potential problem gambling patterns and intervene where necessary. Such capabilities are becoming increasingly important as regulators demand more stringent compliance measures from iGaming companies.

A culture-driven approach to growth

Yaspa’s leadership has emphasised that while technology is the foundation of the company’s offering, its growth is equally dependent on fostering a positive workplace culture. The company places importance on providing its employees with modern office facilities, flexible working arrangements, and professional development opportunities.

The Leeds office, located at Platform by Bruntwood, offers a central location with easy access to transport links, which the company believes will make it easier to attract top-tier engineering talent. The serviced office space includes amenities designed to encourage collaboration, such as communal meeting areas, high-speed connectivity, and breakout spaces.

Looking ahead

With the opening of its Leeds hub, Yaspa is positioning itself for its next phase of expansion—both geographically and technologically. The combination of recent investment, a strong leadership team, and a targeted recruitment drive indicates that the company is taking deliberate steps to secure its position as a leading provider of payment and identity solutions in the iGaming sector.

As Yaspa builds out its teams in Leeds and Atlanta, industry observers will be watching to see how the company balances rapid scaling with the need to maintain compliance, security, and a strong company culture.

Conclusion

The launch of Yaspa’s Leeds technology hub represents more than just an additional office—it marks a decisive investment in talent, infrastructure, and long-term strategic growth. By selecting Leeds, the company is tapping into one of the UK’s strongest pools of software engineering expertise, while also situating itself in proximity to key players in the iGaming industry.

Backed by substantial investment and guided by experienced leadership, Yaspa is positioning itself to expand its Intelligent Payments platform into new markets, with the United States as its immediate target. The company’s commitment to blending advanced technology with a strong organisational culture suggests it is not merely chasing rapid expansion, but doing so with a focus on sustainability, compliance, and collaboration.

As Yaspa continues to grow both in the UK and abroad, its ability to balance innovation with regulatory responsibility will be central to its success. The Leeds hub, led by David Turner, is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving these ambitions—serving as the engine room for the company’s next phase of global development.

FAQs

What is Yaspa’s main business focus?
Yaspa specialises in providing payment and identity verification solutions to regulated industries, particularly the iGaming sector.

Why did Yaspa choose Leeds for its new tech hub?
Leeds offers a strong talent pool in software engineering, a growing technology sector, and the presence of major gambling operators.

How many people does Yaspa plan to hire in Leeds?
The company aims to recruit 20 software engineers in Leeds by the end of 2025, starting with 10 senior developers.

Who is leading the Leeds office?
David Turner, a former Head of Retail Development at William Hill and CTO at Glean, has been appointed Head of Engineering at Yaspa.

What is Intelligent Payments?
It is Yaspa’s proprietary real-time payments platform that uses open banking technology and AI to improve payment speed, compliance, and customer experience.

Where is Yaspa’s US office located?
Yaspa has incorporated a US entity in Atlanta, Georgia, with plans to open an office there.

When was Yaspa founded?
The company was established in 2017 by CEO James Neville, a former CTO at Worldpay.

How many employees does Yaspa have?
Yaspa has grown from 15 to 70 employees in the past 18 months.

What type of working model does Yaspa use?
The company operates a hybrid working model, combining remote work with in-person collaboration.

How will the Leeds team contribute to Yaspa’s US expansion?
The Leeds-based engineers will focus on building products tailored to the US market, supporting the company’s planned expansion there.