DAZN BET names ex-Betdaq MD as head of UK and Ontario

DAZN BET has appointed former Betdaq MD Shane McLaughlin as MD for UK and Ontario as the challenger brand continues to build out its sportsbook team. McLaughlin joins DAZN BET after almost 13 years with Entain, where he worked across the Betdaq and Ladbrokes brands. His most recent role saw him serve as Entain director of digital business development since October 2020. Alongside this, he spent almost seven years up until November 2021 as MD of Betdaq, the Entain-owned betting exchange which was recently sold back to its original owner, Irish tycoon Dermot Desmond. McLaughlin also spent more than two years as director of digital P&L for Ladbrokes Ireland. He began his career in the industry as a commercial manager at BoyleSports in 2007. McLaughlin is currently on gardening leave and will join DAZN BET in the near future. He becomes the latest Entain alumni to join the company, which began with Shay Segev’s departure to become CEO, and kickstart the sportsbook project. Segev went on to coax ex-Entain director Ian Turnbull and former COO Sandeep Tiku to join the sports streaming platform as EVP of betting and gaming and CTO, respectively. Former BoyleSports CEO Mark Kemp is set to become DAZN BET CEO in July and will be joined by ex-William Hill pair Liam Barbour and Gemma Burge, as well as former 888 risk exec Matthew Greenman. Elsewhere, former Entain information technology director Michael Boylan has also joined DAZN BET’s executive team as a technology director. Boylan has held a series of senior roles across Entain, including at Ladbrokes Coral and Gala, in IT, services and tech. London-founded DAZN, which is owned by billionaire Len Blavatnik, announced in April that its sports betting product will be built on Pragmatic Solutions’ platform. On his appointment, McLaughlin said: “I’m delighted to share that I will be joining DAZN BET as managing director for UK and Ontario. I’m massively excited to be teaming up again with some exceptional former colleagues for the launch of this new venture.” Touching on his time with Entain, McLaughlin added: “It’s been an incredible 13-year journey through Betdaq, Ladbrokes Coral and GVC/Entain and I am hugely grateful to some amazing colleagues and mentors who have supported me through this time. “I wish everyone at Entain the very best for the future.”