Andrew Vouris has been appointed the chief executive officer of Entain Australia and New Zealand on a permanent basis, having first stepped into the role in June.
Vouris has been charged with leading a new era at the Australasian arm of the global wagering giant after stepping in for long-term CEO Dean Shannon, who confirmed he was leaving the company in June having served in that senior role since 2019.
Entain launched a global talent search for his replacement, but in the end opted for the man they had put in on an interim role two-and-half months ago.
“Andrew stood out as the right leader for Entain ANZ. His leadership as interim CEO has demonstrated his commitment to our people, our partners, and to building a sustainable, compliance-led and customer-focused culture,” Entain Group chief executive Stella David said.
“Andrew has made great progress since he arrived at Entain, and I am very much looking forward to continuing working with him.”
Vouris, who had previously worked for Entain as chief operating officer of Esports from 2021 until 2024, and had a nearly decade-long spell working at Tabcorp from 2009 until 2018, has led a refreshed approach after some immediate challenges in the Australian and New Zealand businesses.
“I am grateful for this opportunity, and the responsibility that I have been given. My priority is to embed a ‘win, but not at all costs culture’ and get back to the basics of selling bets,” Vouris said.
“I will also be focusing on leading innovation in our sector while protecting our customers. I am excited about the future of our business, and while there is still much more to do, we are well-positioned for growth.”
Entain’s Australian operation is the subject of action from AUSTRAC over failures in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding obligations, while it has also been impacted by the broader decline in the Australian wagering landscape over the past two to three years.
The most recent global earnings reports indicated Australia was down seven per cent in revenue on the same time last year.
In contrast, the New Zealand business continues to surge off the back of the 2023 agreement, which gave Entain the 25-year rights to operate the New Zealand TAB.
Bren O’Brien
It reported that its New Zealand business revenue jumped 12 per cent compared to the same period last year, with further upside set to come via the legislative net, which gave Entain a virtual monopoly over New Zealand from late June through its TAB NZ and betcha brands.
Entain’s future position in the Australian market has been at the centre of speculation since the AUSTRAC action was announced last December. Shannon’s departure followed a string of senior executives leaving the company.
However, Vouris’ permanent appointment will likely be seen by the industry as a sign of the company’s long-term intentions in a mature Australian market.
Bren O’Brien
