UK bookmaker Star Sports has announced that it has begun trading in Australia after receiving a Victorian Wagering and Betting Licence.
The license sees Star Sports join the highly competitive Australian online sports betting market, which has in recent years been dominated by Sportsbet. It has also seen an ongoing power play being waged between the corporate bookmakers such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Neds, and former market leader Tabcorp which holds exclusive retail rights across much of the country.
Star Sports is well known in the UK in both an online and retail environment by way of its prominent racecourse pitches and high street shops.
Shane Ciurleo, Star Sports’ General Manager in Australia, said, “I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to bring the Star Sports brand to life in Australia. Ben Keith and his team have built and maintained a wonderful brand in the UK, and I look forward to introducing the Australian market to the Star Sports brand ethos and values.”
Ben Keith, owner of Star Sports, added, “I am thrilled to be launching our Star Sports brand in Australia. With Shane at the helm, I have the upmost confidence in the team Down Under.
“It was a lifelong ambition to trade at the prestigious Melbourne Cup and with great thanks to the Waterhouse family, it became a reality last year. We at Star Sports believe in bookmaking and are very excited to begin operating in Australia.”
