Flutter Entertainment has reorganized the leadership of its Australian brand, Sportsbet, with long-time chief executive Barni Evans moving into a wider role overseeing the Asia-Pacific region and emerging markets. Evans will begin his new position as CEO of Flutter APAC and Emerging Markets on June 1. He has been at Sportsbet since early 2018, guiding the company through years of commercial expansion and innovation.

Doug Brown, a senior executive at Sportsbet for more than a decade, will take over as the Australian operator’s chief executive. Brown’s prior roles at the company included chief operating officer, chief product officer, and chief growth officer. He officially assumes the CEO role next week, succeeding Evans.

As reported by AFR, Evans commented on the transition, saying, “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. Doug is the right person to lead the next phase as chief executive. He knows the business inside out and has played a major role in getting us to where we are today.” Brown added, “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 Market Position

Sportsbet remains the dominant online bookmaker in Australia, capturing an estimated 45 percent of the market, nearly double that of its closest competitor, Tabcorp. Under Evans’ leadership, the company invested heavily in mobile wagering, product innovation, and in-play entertainment features. Despite this, Sportsbet’s revenue from Australian customers has fallen over the past three years, dropping to $US1.3 billion in 2025 from $US1.45 billion in 2023.

The Asia-Pacific region represents a smaller arm of Flutter, generating $US1.4 billion in revenue in 2025. This figure reflects the company’s withdrawal from its real-money gaming business in India, Junglee, which became illegal under new legislation, although Flutter maintained a free-to-play version of the game. The region also includes emerging markets such as MaxBet, Adjarabet, and the online poker platform PokerStars.

Global Strategy and Future Outlook

Evans’ new role at Flutter will oversee the company’s strategic positioning across APAC and emerging markets, following the global realignment that separated Flutter International and FanDuel into distinct divisions. Flutter’s recent withdrawal from India cost the company an estimated $500 million after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) was introduced. The APAC and Emerging Markets unit aims to rebuild Flutter’s presence in the region while capitalizing on opportunities in regulated jurisdictions.

Brown faces the challenge of revitalizing Sportsbet amid a more competitive Australian betting landscape and growing regulatory pressures. His mandate will focus on restoring Sportsbet’s market performance while continuing the strategic investments initiated under Evans’ leadership. The leadership reshuffle underscores Flutter’s broader strategy of centralizing international operations while pursuing growth in both established and emerging markets.