Head of Strategy Operations

Entain's international racing manager Hutton departs after 20 years. Ben Hutton has joined Pythia Sports as its head of trading. October 07, 2026 Entain's international racing manager Ben Hutton, who has been with the group for 20 years, has revealed his departure for Pythia Sports. Hutton joined the Gala Coral Group in August 2005 as the head of its international racing product. He has been with the company throughout its transition into Ladbrokes Coral, GVC Group and now Entain. Hutton has led the group's international racing operations throughout his two-decade stint. He now moves to the supplier sector with Pythia Sports as its head of trading. New chapter for Entain veteran. "After 20 years, this week is my last one working for the wonderful Entain," Hutton said on LinkedIn. "This company, and specifically the international racing product, has been my life and baby for a very long time, so it's going to be very weird for that to no longer be the case." "I'm very excited to be joining Pythia Sports next week as head of trading, merging my bookmaker experience with the supplier side of the industry," Hutton added. He labelled it a "very different challenge after 20 years on one side of the fence, and one I'm really looking forward to." Hutton moves on from Entain amid warnings from the company - and the UK's Betting and Gaming Council - that UK horse racing could be affected by a mooted rise in Machine Games Duty.

Entain soft launches BlackRush for New Zealand casino market. Entain soft launches BlackRush for New Zealand casino market vanja mitic october 1, 2026 latest casino and gambling news. Entain has soft launched BlackRush Casino, a new brand created for New Zealand as the country moves toward a regulated online casino market. The site appeared shortly after New Zealand opened the auction for 15 planned online casino approvals on September 29, 2026. Successful bidders will earn the right to submit formal licence applications before the regulated market launches. BlackRush currently operates under Entain's ElectraWorks Gibraltar licence and requires a New Zealand VPN for access. The site appears to run on a separate platform from Entain's global set-up and shares that system with FoxySpins, another New Zealand-facing brand that draws on the company's existing FoxyBingo identity. The two casino brands would join Entain's existing local sports betting operations, including betcha and TAB. Entain already holds a strong position in the country through its 25-year strategic partnership with TAB NZ, which gives it exclusive access to the New Zealand sports betting market. Entain seeks maximum licence allocation. New Zealand will limit the regulated online casino sector to 15 licences, with each approval tied to a single brand. One operator may hold no more than three licences. Each licence will run for an initial three-year term and may be renewed for five years. The full market is expected to launch in 2027, although authorities have not announced a precise start date. According to NEXT.io, Entain chief executive Stella David has already said the company is confident it can secure all three licences available to a single operator. "I think the opportunity for us is significant because we'll be the only player who will be able to do cross-sell." David also said the Australia and New Zealand business, led by local CEO Andrew Vouris, was increasing its involvement in the market and working with local partners. She estimated New Zealand's total market at about £600 million annually. Entain currently generates approximately £200 million in the region, while the addition of iGaming brands could push that figure above £300 million. Licence winners must complete full assessment. Securing a position in the auction will not automatically give an operator permission to enter the market. Successful bidders must still complete a formal licensing process. The Department of Internal Affairs requires five separate documents covering business planning, advertising, consumer protection, harm prevention and compliance. The framework also sets technical conditions for games and random number generators. Products already tested in the United Kingdom or Ontario can be accepted for launch without further testing. New games added later will require independent testing. Entain's BlackRush and FoxySpins sites indicate that the operator is preparing multiple brands while the licensing process develops. Other companies reportedly expressing interest in New Zealand licences include SkyCity, Super Group, DigiPlus, Stake and Dabble.

Entain and Flutter warn of financial hit from Brazil betting ban. Business Regulation Updated by Colm Phelan Brand Manager Last Updated 29th Sep 2026, 02:35 PM [Entain, which owns Ladbrokes and Sportingbet, has cut its online revenue outlook after Brazil's ban on fixed-odds betting. (Photo: Jaggery / Wikimedia Commons)] Entain has downgraded its full-year online revenue guidance after Brazil's sudden ban on fixed-odds betting, joining Flutter Entertainment in warning investors of a financial hit from the market's abrupt closure. In a regulatory announcement to the London Stock Exchange on 28 September 2026, the Ladbrokes and Sportingbet owner said it now expects full-year online net gaming revenue growth of 4% to 6% on a constant currency basis, down from a previous guidance range of 5% to 7% excluding Brazil. The downgrade follows Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's decision to sign a provisional measure on 25 September 2026 banning the exploitation, offer and advertising of fixed-odds betting across the country, a move that also affects the online casinos sector operating there. Entain holds earnings guidance, Flutter reviewing options. In the announcement, Entain said it was 'disappointed' by the 'sudden development without consultation of industry stakeholders regarding its significant adverse consequences'. The group confirmed it is complying with the provisional measure while it remains in force. Brazil had been expected to account for around 5% of Entain's total online net gaming revenue this year, though the group said its earnings contribution was always forecast to be 'modest' given the 'challenging and highly competitive operating environment' in the country. Entain reconfirmed its full-year underlying EBITDA guidance of £910 million to £960 million, but now expects to land towards the lower end of that range because of the ban. Flutter, the Dublin-founded owner of Paddy Power and FanDuel, said separately it was 'extremely disappointed' by the development and is 'reviewing all available options, including the potential to appeal'. Brazil accounted for around 1% of Flutter's total revenue at the end of 2025, but the company has said the ban could cut about $70 million from its 2026 revenue and $20 million from adjusted core profit. Provisional measure needs congressional approval. The ban is not yet permanent. Under Brazilian law, a presidential provisional measure takes immediate effect but must secure congressional approval within 120 days to remain in force, meaning the shutdown could still be amended or rejected by lawmakers before it becomes permanent. 'Excluding Brazil, Entain remains on track to deliver FY26 online net gaming revenue growth at the top end of its guidance of 5% to 7% on a constant currency basis,' the group said in its 28 September announcement, framing Brazil as an isolated, if painful, disruption to an otherwise resilient year. The reaction in the two companies' share prices diverged in early trading, with Flutter's US-listed stock up 1.1% while Entain's shares fell 4.2%, reflecting the market's read on the relative sizes of each group's Brazilian exposure. The wider timing is notable for both companies. Entain revealed plans earlier this month to cut around 400 jobs worldwide, citing rising UK gambling taxes, while Flutter has previously said fears over an Irish gambling tax rise were overblown. Entain said it will continue to monitor the Brazilian situation and provide further updates as appropriate. The full regulatory announcement is available via the London Stock Exchange's regulatory news service. Congress is now expected to debate the measure over the coming months, with the outcome likely to shape how quickly, if at all, either operator can return to the Brazilian market. Meet the author. 10 Years Experience Colm Phelan Brand Manager Colm Phelan has spent several years working in the iGaming industry and has plenty of experience when it comes to writing, researching and rigorously testing online casinos and sportsbooks. While Colm has invested a lot of his time into the digital marketing world but his other passions include poker and a variety of sports including golf, NFL and football.