Flutter Entertainment has changed the leadership ranks of its Australian brand Sportsbet, elevating long-serving chief executive Barni Evans to a wider international remit of the FTSE/NYSE-listed gambling group.
The promotion follows a major leadership change in its US and international operations earlier this year, occurring at the same time the firm announced its Q1 financial results.
In a statement issued to Australian media yesterday, Flutter confirmed that Evans will end his seven year tenure as CEO of online bookmaker Sportsbet, the multinational’s flagship Australian asset.
The move triggers a reorganisation of Flutter c-level executive team as Evans transitions to the new role of APAC and Emerging Markets, a new operating unit of the FTSE/NYSE firm.
The transition will see Doug Brown appointed as the new CEO of Sportsbet from 1 June, following more than a decade in senior leadership positions at the bookmaker.
Brown joined Sportsbet 11 years ago and has served in several executive functions including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Product Officer and Chief Growth Officer.
Flutter stated that his appointment reflects continuity in strategy as Sportsbet enters its next phase of growth in Australia amid a compliance overhaul.
“Sportsbet is a dynamic business with smart people and a lot of momentum, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the business in its next phase,” 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.”
Sportsbet’s legacy cemented
Evans departs the Australian leadership role having overseen a period of significant commercial expansion for Sportsbet, which consolidated its position as Australia’s dominant online bookmaker with market share estimated at circa 45%.
Under his leadership, Sportsbet accelerated investment in mobile wagering, product innovation and in-play entertainment features, while also navigating increasing regulatory scrutiny surrounding advertising, consumer protections and gambling harm controls.
“It’s been a huge privilege to be part of Sportsbet’s story. I’m incredibly proud of the business we’ve built and the team behind it,” Evans said.
“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.”
“I look forward to remaining closely connected to the business while taking on this broader role across APAC and Emerging Markets.”
The executive reshuffle comes during a broader transition period for Flutter, which continues to centralise international operations while prioritising expansion opportunities across regulated and emerging wagering markets.
In 2025, Flutter Entertainment introduced a new operating structure consolidating its global business into two principal divisions: Flutter International, led by Dan Taylor, and the US-focused FanDuel unit, formerly overseen by Amy Howe.
Further executive changes followed in Q1 2026 when Howe ended her tenure as CEO of FanDuel, with Flutter appointing North America strategy chief Christian Genetski to lead FanDuel’s new revitalisation programme.
Within the new structure, Evans will assume leadership of an APAC and Emerging Markets division. The unit is expected to re-establish Flutter’s strategic positioning in Asia following the abrupt closure of its Junglee Games business in India last August.
Flutter’s retreat from India came after the country authorised the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), legislation that effectively outlawed all forms of real-money online gaming at a federal level – at a cost of $500m (£265m) to the company.
For Doug Brown, his CEO remit will be to revitalise the performance of a stagnating Sportsbet business amid a more competitive and cost heavy Australian wagering marketplace.
Flutter expects Brown to restore Sportsbet to its previous standing as one of the star performers within its global portfolio, at a time when higher taxes, regulatory pressures and slowing wagering growth are reshaping the economics of the Australian betting sector.
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