Poll results: Dark days ahead for Sun Bets
Readers think Tabcorp-run brand unlikely to be able to overcome a rocky first 12 months of operations
Sun Bets is unlikely to be a long-term success after a torrid first year of operations, according to a majority of voters on this week’s poll.
Exactly 60% of voters said the firm could not turn it around after a 12 months that saw it lose £28m and its MD Jamie Hart, while also gaining media attention for all the wrong reasons thanks to its Pie-gate stunt.
One analyst told EGR: “If it were me I’d find a way to pack it in as cheaply as possible and send everyone home.”
However Tabcorp and News UK are not ready to do that, with Tabcorp saying last week the Sun Bets adventure had reminded it of “the challenges of start-ups”.
“As a consequence we have reviewed its operating model, capability and financial plans and have undertaken a range of initiatives to maximise the prospects of success in FY18 and beyond,” the firm said
The initiatives included utilising the “powerful” Sun brand and focusing on customer acquisition and product development.
Indeed Sun Bets management told EGR the platform was now functioning correctly after a rocky start, and the firm recently unveiled ambitious plans to cross-sell the product to the Sun’s 1.2 million Dream Team customers through an integration on the fantasy football product’s platform.