Exclusive: SportCast co-founder exits after nearly a decade
Ryan Coombs announces departure from the Openbet-owned firm to spend time with family
SportCast co-founder and MD Ryan Coombs has announced his departure from SportCast, the company behind the popular BetBuilder product.
Coombs set up SportCast in 2013 and acquired Sky Betting and Gaming as its first client in 2014, which was one of the firms Coombs worked for as a football trading manager before starting the company.
SportCast shot to fame when it became the first supplier of the BetBuilder product in 2017, a product which allows users to create in-game multiples.
Bet builder became prevalent in the industry as it subsequently went live with bwin, Betsson and Betfred in time for the World Cup in 2018.
Following its success, SportCast launched the product with over 80 operators including DraftKings, Bet MGM, Tabcorp and Fortuna.
SportCast was acquired by Light & Wonder in 2021, followed by a partnership with the UFC across its product suite in early 2022.
On leaving SportCast, Coombs said: “I’m extremely proud of what the SportCast team has achieved over the years, the growth of the BetBuilder product has been extraordinary and it’s been a real pleasure seeing the team bring industry-first after industry-first to the table, and within that fundamentally change the way that the consumer interacts with sport and betting.”
Coombs also gave an update on his plans now that he has left the company.
He said: “For now, it’s the right time for me to take some time out to spend with the family. Beyond that I guess it’s a case of watching this space a little – the industry still has a lot of growth and opportunity ahead of it, which I’m sure when the times right I will be itching to get stuck back into.”