Andrew Vouris steps up as Entain ANZ’s permanent CEO
Following a global search, Entain Australia and New Zealand has opted for Interim CEO, Andrew Vouris, as the permanent appointment.
Key points:
– Vouris has stepped up from Interim CEO to the permanent role
– Appointment follows the June departure of former CEO, Dean Shannon, from Entain ANZ in June
– Vouris advocates for a ‘win, but not at all costs, approach’
Andrew Vouris has been in situ as Interim CEO of Entain’s Australia and New Zealand operations (Entain ANZ) since 30 June 2025, but he will now take the position on a permanent basis.
It was in June that Dean Shannon stepped down from his role as CEO following nearly six years at the head of the company.
That outwardly mutual transition was announced to coincide with the completion of the AML/CTF Uplift Programme and the introduction of the ‘legislative net,’ introduced to support the racing industry.
Vouris took the reins on an immediate and temporary basis as Entain ANZ announced the beginning of a global search for a permanent replacement to lead them into a new phase.
The conclusion of that search has found Vouris to be the most viable option, and Stella David, Group CEO of Entain, has said this: “Andrew stood out as the right leader for Entain ANZ. His leadership as Interim CEO has demonstrated his commitment to our people, our partners, and to building a sustainable, compliance-led and customer-focused culture.”
David herself will be familiar with this route, having been appointed Entain’s permanent CEO in April, after more than one term as Interim CEO.
Entain’s new chief in in Australia and New Zealand was initially picked up from Unikrn, an esports betting platform in 2021 – Entain acquired the operator and Vouris was immediately given a repackaged role as COO for Entain Esports.
He later stepped away to focus his attentions on the investment fund he co-founded before returning to the Entain breach this year as Interim CEO.
Good to know: The ‘legislative net’ introduced in New Zealand, forced offshore operators to leave the sports and racing betting market in the country, triggering a NZ$100m (US$58.5m) payment from Entain to Tab NZ, the land-based monopoly with which Entain has a long-term strategic partnership
His experience in the region is an asset, having fulfilled leadership roles at Tabcorp, another of Australia’s biggest operators, for nearly 10 years.
Vouris himself commented on his new position: “My priority is to embed a ‘win, but not at all costs culture’ and get back to the basics of selling bets. I will also be focusing on leading innovation in our sector while protecting our customers.”
This appointment should herald the end of a period of slight uncertainty at Entain ANZ, though it may not be so simple according to recent reports on Mixi and Betr Entertainment’s interminable struggle to acquire PointsBet.
Matt Tripp, Founder of Betr, has reportedly been considering making a move for a carved out Entain Australia should the PointsBet tussle not go their way.
Where this would leave the new CEO, it remains to be seen, but the suggestion is that Entain would maintain control of its New Zealand operation, where it has a hugely beneficial relationship with Tab NZ, the country’s statutory monopoly.
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