A wide range of acquisitions, appointments and strategic partnerships promise to redefine the betting industry across Australia.
These developments will bolster Australia’s ambitions of becoming the nexus of the global gambling industry, especially as the nation embraces more cutting-edge technology.
They will change how the wagering platforms featured on comparison website AustralianBettingSites operate in local and international markets in the future.
Apple iSports Acquired Lucky Bet
One of the most noteworthy developments this year resulted in California-based technology company Apple iSports (AiS) agreeing a deal to acquire local platform Lucky Bet.
The name might raise eyebrows, but AiS is not affiliated with the iPhone-maker Apple Inc. But they are major players in the Australian betting industry.
Lucky Bet is a Queensland-based company which trades as the Lucky Bet online sportsbook. The company thrives on Business-to-Business (B2B) offers and has spread its wings across eSports, fantasy sports, crypto-based payments and white label gaming platforms.
Before AiS reached a definitive agreement to acquire all the shares in LBC Enterprises Pty Ltd, the company already had operations stretching across South and Southeast Asia.
They were always expected to move on to greater things, and the acquisition will push them to the next level. Lucky Bet chief executive officer Ian Parke will keep his job and also join the AiS board.
The acquisition gives the United States firm a chance to gain a foothold in the Australian market, which has become increasingly sought after over the past few years.
Sports betting has been legalised across several states in the US. The company’s home state of California is not one of them. But getting Lucky Bet on board gives them a chance to strengthen their position as a global powerhouse.
Betr and MIXI Australia Battling for PointsBet
AiS’ deal to purchase Lucky Bet is just one of several acquisitions that have dominated Australia’s gambling sector this year.
The most intense development has been the ongoing contest between Betr, now trading under BlueBet, and MIXI Australia for control of PointsBet.
The appeal is obvious. PointsBet has a strong brand value in both Australia and Canada, so it makes sense that both companies are going head-to-head to take control.
Betr started as a joint venture between News Corp and betting tycoon Matt Tripp. The company has shown an aggressive mergers and acquisitions appetite.
It expanded its operational range when it took over Northern Territory from TopSport earlier this year. This was a clear statement of intent, and they are using the same tenacity to pursue PointsBet.
However, the company has already suffered one setback when PointsBet’s board rejected its initial bid in favour of MIXI’s proposal.
MIXI Australia, the local offshoot of the Japanese tech conglomerate MIXI, also sees strategic value in PointsBet – not just in Australia, but in its broader market footprint.
The Booki Group’s Big Play
Another strong indicator that the sector is moving to the next level came with the appointment of Jason Scott as chief executive officer of The Booki Group (TBG).
Scott is an experienced executive who has held senior roles at some of the betting operators which have been reviewed by AustralianBettingSites. Their experts recognise the quality he brings to the table.
He has a strong background in operational leadership and commercial strategy and is exactly the kind of leader whose presence suggests that a major change is afoot.
TBG is big on innovation, and the company is keen to build a multi-brand future. Its flagship platform, PonyBet, is already making headline moves, and there are plans to roll out more brands over the next 18 months.
TBG’s betting infrastructure is built on BetMakers Technology Group’s Apollo platform. It is a high-performance backend system built to deliver scalable and personalised betting experiences.
What sets TBG apart in the betting sector is the company’s willingness to embrace new market trends.
Betting platforms are always looking to stand out by making their product unique and innovative, and TBG’s flexibility will come in handy as they navigate a highly competitive landscape.
BetMakers Agree Partnership with TBG
Consumer-facing brands often steal the headlines, but companies such as BetMakers are the backbone of much of Australia’s current gambling innovation.
The tech powerhouse has agreed a deal to provide its Apollo wagering platform to power TBG’s PonyBet brand. The platform allows operators to launch differentiated products quickly and efficiently.
TBG is not the only gambling heavyweight in BetMakers’ playbook, but what stands out in the deal is the synergy between the company’s leadership and infrastructure.
Scott already has strong connections to the US market, thanks to his spell as a senior executive at BetMGM, so the alliance between TBG and BetMakers is a huge step towards international alignment.
With sports betting now legal across over 30 states in the US, Australian firms, or those powered by Australian tech, have a huge opportunity to bring innovation into the American market.
“With Scott at the helm and BetMakers providing the technology backbone, the group is well-positioned to deliver differentiated products to market at speed and scale,” the company said in a statement.
