Stars Group eyes global betting expansion with new sports platform

The Stars Group has begun work on a new global sports betting platform it says will combine the best of the BetStars, Sky Bet and BetEasy platforms.

The so-called global sports and trading platform (GSTP) is being developed by tech teams in Bulgaria and the UK, led by Sky Bet engineers in Leeds.

GSTP will ultimately replace third-party platform components, with the first international markets expected to be migrated towards the end of 2019, with more markets, including the US, to be added in 2020.

Sky Bet will then be migrated onto the platform in 2021 or 2022.

At its investor day presentation on Wednesday, Stars described sports betting as its biggest opportunity over the next few years, with COO Guy Templer explaining: “We are only tiny portion of the global sports betting market, and with the capability we have recently acquired, the opportunity here is massive.”

Talking up the potential for GSDP, Stars CEO Rafi Ashkenazi added: “We think we have acquired the best teams globally in online betting. We have the team that built the leading online betting brand in the UK and the team that built several leading business in Australia.

“These teams are building GSDP, leveraging the best parts of product and technology across the business. This will enhance the productivity and pace of innovation and ensure that each of our betting product offers the leading experience in each market.”