BetBright, a fast growing digital entertainment and sports betting company, saw its turnover treble last year and aims to double it again in the next 12 months.

BetBright, chaired by Rich Ricci, aims to be disrupter in the betting industry and challenge more established competitors by embracing new technology • Big recruitment plans are in place to attract tech talent in order to ensure scaling for growth is achievable – business has also recently appointed a new MD, Sarne Lightman • Multi-million pound investment in marketing, including launch of first ever TV advertising campaign in Spring 2018

BetBright, the fast growing digital entertainment and sports betting company, forecasts a revenue increase of at least 200 per cent for 2017 over 2016, with a forecasted profit of £25 million for 2018.

The business is growing fast and acquiring customers in the process; to date the owners have invested more than £53.3 million in the business and this has delivered significant growth (around 60 per cent YOY).

BetBright has also appointed Sarne Lightman to the newly created role of Managing Director. He reports directly to BetBright CEO Marcus Brennan, who co-founded the business in 2012 alongside fellow Irish telecoms entrepreneurs, Richard Brennan and Tadhg O’Toole. Last year it appointed a new Executive Chairman, Rich Ricci, the prominent racehorse owner and businessman.

The business is a 100 per cent mobile and online platform and it does not operate any high-street outlets – nor does it have plans to do so. Most of the visits to its website and digital platforms are generated by customers in the UK.

BetBright owns, develops and operates its own proprietary software in-house for its online sports betting, online casino and virtual gaming platforms. This is instead of using a ‘white-label’ system delivered by another provider – and BetBright is one of very few firms within the sector to do so.

Sarne Lightman previously held senior roles, with big names globally including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and most recently worked as chief marketing officer (CMO) at forex trading firm 24option.

He has significant and impressive experience across South America, Australia, South Pacific and Asia – and is best known for rising through the ranks in short space of time at the Stars Group to become chief marketing officer of Full Tilt.

Looking ahead for 2018, Sarne Lightman, managing director of BetBrighty, said: “2018 is going to be a game changing year for us and our aim is to become the disrupters of the sports betting industry.

Our plan is to use our technology ownership and the in-house development of this, as an enabler of innovation and differentiation – which will enable us to shake-up what is an already crowded market and stand apart from competitors, which include some very successful and well-known brands

“We will continue to grow, too. BetBright currently employs around 100 people, 70 per cent of which focus directly on technology, product and marketing. In 2018 we will grow this to over 150.

“We’ve significantly upping our investment in marketing too – for example, we are working with Mark Davies (Director of Sherlock Homes, Black Mirror and Peaky Blinders) and Balagan on BetBright’s first ever TV advertising campaign, which will launch in Spring.

“BetBright is already doing things in the sector that have not been done before and you’ll be hearing a lot more about us and from us in the coming months as we continue to push the boundaries and disrupt the status quo.”

BetBright recently launched its sponsorship of the 2018 BetBright Cup, the annual challenge between Great Britain and Ireland for Cheltenham festival winners.

Backed by team captains, former England Cricketer Phil Tufnell (GB) and former Snooker World Champion Ken Dochety (Ireland) it sees the best of British and Irish horses pitted against each other across the 28 races of the four day Festival until either country has 14 winners or more.