Four years ago, David Copeland, 30, was running his online recruitment business from his flat. Today, he employs 25 people at his HQ in East Kilbride and has offices in places as far afield as Costa Rica and Malta.

The site, Bettingjobs.com, started life as a message board but quickly developed into Europe’s first recruitment website for the gambling and gaming industry — and became Copeland’s career. Now he is looking to expand into other niche areas.

“There is a shift change in terms of the skills needed for all businesses and the kind of people we have on our books can work in many other areas, like online banking,” he said.

But Copeland is frustrated at his home country’s reluctance to embrace internet businesses while pursuing high-risk investments in areas such as life sciences.

The firm, which he started with a £5,000 loan from the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, has funded its recent growth mainly through revenue, but as part of his expansion plans he had discussions with Business Gateway, the government’s business development agency, about financial help to recruit new staff.

“I was astonished when it was suggested I should take a 30% wage cut to show I was serious,” said Copeland. “Having built the company up to employing 25 people from nothing, it should be obvious that I am already pretty serious about it.

“I am a Scot and that is why I am here, but it is not necessary for me to be in Scotland to run this business. So why are we as a country making it so hard for people to do business?”

Copeland was working in recruitment in London when he noticed a potential gap in the market as the number of clients looking to recruit people for the gambling industry began to rise.

“Online gambling was about to take off and needed people with specific skills,” he said.

The company quickly did well and moved into small premises on Glasgow’s south side. By the end of last year, it needed more space and moved into its East Kilbride HQ. This year Copeland opened small offices in Malta, Singapore and Costa Rica. “Costa Rica is ideal because it is on the same timeline for the major markets of North, South and Central America,” he said.

Copeland wants to be on the American continent. He believes the world’s biggest market will open up before too long. Barney Frank of the US House Financial Services Committee, has proposed legislation that would legalise online gambling, a reversal of a 2006 US law banning it.

“There is a review and pressure to open up the US to online gambling,” said Copeland. “While are primarily focused on online, we do land-based jobs as well. Even without the US, there are opportunities for growth.

“We’ve grown the business by 100% year on year and that is partly because our staff are all very motivated. Most are under 30, so they really understand the niche market.”

It is considered a fairly recession-proof industry — while gambling mecca Las Vegas has reported a fall in customers this year, the projections for next year remain high.

Copeland sees no signs of a downturn hitting the online market, but he is also looking at other business investments. A keen golfer, he is considering making an investment in a golf training aid, but still thinks his home country could do much more to help people develop businesses.

“It is frustrating that Scotland does not do more to encourage people with business ideas — and it has nothing to do with our size or where we are in the world,” he said.

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