Flutter promotes Sportsbet CEO Barni Evans to APAC role amidst Australian market slowdown

Flutter Entertainment has named Sportsbet Chief Executive Barni Evans to lead its Asia-Pacific and Emerging Markets operations from June 1, while Doug Brown will take over as chief executive of the Australian online bookmaker.

Brown has been with Sportsbet since 2015 and has held senior roles including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Product Officer and Chief Growth Officer. He will assume leadership of Australia’s largest online bookmaker at a time when the local wagering market is facing higher taxes, increased regulatory scrutiny, compliance changes and slower wagering growth.

Sportsbet holds an estimated 45% share of Australia’s online bookmaker market, about double that of its nearest rival, Tabcorp. Other operators, including Entain-owned Ladbrokes and Neds, and PointsBet, hold smaller market positions.

However, Sportsbet’s revenue from Australian users has declined for three consecutive years, falling to $1.3 billion in 2025 from $1.45 billion in 2023. Flutter, listed on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, reported $16.4 billion in revenue in the 2025 calendar year.

Its Asia-Pacific region accounted for $1.4 billion, down from the previous year after the group exited Junglee, a real-money gaming business in India, following legislation that made such operations illegal. Flutter retained a free version of the game.

Evans’ new role will cover APAC and emerging markets, including MaxBet and Adjarabet in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as PokerStars. The appointment follows Flutter’s 2025 operating structure changes, which consolidated its global business into Flutter International, led by Dan Taylor, and the US-focused FanDuel unit.

The reshuffle also follows executive changes in Flutter’s US operations earlier in the month, when Amy Howe ended her tenure as FanDuel Chief Executive and North America Strategy Chief Christian Genetski was appointed to lead FanDuel’s revitalization program.

Evans has led Sportsbet since early 2018, overseeing a period of commercial expansion, investment in mobile wagering and product development, while also navigating closer scrutiny of advertising, consumer protection and gambling harm controls.

“It’s been a huge privilege to be part of Sportsbet’s story,” Evans said. “I’m incredibly proud of the business we’ve built and the team behind it. Doug is the right person to lead the next phase as CEO. He knows the business inside out and has played a major role in getting us to where we are today.”

Brown said: “My focus is simple – keep improving the experience for our customers, bringing excitement to life, and making the most of the opportunities in front of us.”