Flutter elevates Sportsbet CEO Barni Evans to lead its APAC charge

(AsiaGameHub) –   Flutter Entertainment has adjusted the leadership structure of its Australian brand Sportsbet, promoting long-tenured chief executive Barni Evans to a broader international role within the FTSE/NYSE-listed gambling company.

This promotion comes on the heels of a significant leadership shake-up in the firm’s US and international operations earlier this year, coinciding with the release of its Q1 financial results.

In a statement issued to Australian media yesterday, Flutter confirmed Evans will step down from his seven-year tenure as CEO of online bookmaker Sportsbet— the multinational’s flagship Australian asset.

This shift will prompt a restructuring of Flutter’s C-suite executive team as Evans transitions to the newly created role heading the APAC and Emerging Markets division, a new operational unit of the FTSE/NYSE-listed firm.

As part of this transition, Doug Brown will be appointed as Sportsbet’s new CEO starting June 1, following more than a decade in senior leadership positions at the bookmaker.

Brown joined Sportsbet 11 years ago and has held various executive roles including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Growth Officer.

Flutter noted that his appointment ensures strategic continuity as Sportsbet enters its next growth phase in Australia amid an ongoing compliance revamp.

“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 leaves his Australian leadership post after overseeing a period of substantial commercial expansion for Sportsbet, which solidified its status as Australia’s dominant online bookmaker with an estimated market share of around 45%.

During his tenure, Sportsbet ramped up investments in mobile wagering, product innovation, and in-play entertainment features, while also navigating growing regulatory scrutiny around 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.”

This executive restructuring takes place during a larger transition period for Flutter, which continues to centralise its international operations while prioritising expansion opportunities in both regulated and emerging wagering markets.

In 2025, Flutter Entertainment rolled out a new operating structure that consolidated its global business into two main divisions: Flutter International, led by Dan Taylor, and the US-focused FanDuel unit, previously overseen by Amy Howe.

Additional executive changes followed in Q1 2026 when Howe stepped down as FanDuel’s CEO, with Flutter appointing North America strategy chief Christian Genetski to lead FanDuel’s new revitalisation programme.

As part of the new structure, Evans will assume leadership of the APAC and Emerging Markets division. This 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 exit from India came after the country passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), legislation that effectively banned all forms of real-money online gaming at the federal level— at a cost of $500m (£265m) to the company.

For Doug Brown, his CEO remit will involve revitalising the performance of a stagnating Sportsbet amid an increasingly competitive and cost-heavy Australian wagering marketplace.

Flutter expects Brown to restore Sportsbet to its previous standing as one of the star performers in 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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