Sportsbet Launch Legal Action against Former Executives New Company Beteasy

Australian online bookmakers Sportsbet have launched legal action to prevent its employees joining former chief executive Matthew Tripp, at his new betting company Beteasy.

Sports bet, who were fully acquired by Irish bookmakers Paddy Power in 2011, want to ensure that their workforce do not leave and join with their former executive in his new business venture.

Under Tripp’s control, Sportsbet widened its customer base beyond traditional gamblers, striking exclusive advertising deals and tapping into mobile and internet betting in Australia, which was an unexplored market for some time.

Tripp is attempting to re-enter the online betting market after a period of enforced leave that ended on March 1 after Sportsbet was sold to Paddy Power for $388 million. Paddy Power CEO Patrick Kennedy is now the acting chairman of Sportsbet.

Along with Sportsbet’s original investors and members of the founding management team, Tripp launched the new venture after acquiring the assets of bookmaker Beteasy earlier this month.

Contract breach

Sportsbet were featured in more gambling news, as they filed an injunction in the Victorian Supreme Court alleging that former employee Kelli Carpanini had started working for Beteasy in breach of what it said was a “non-complete restraint period”.

The online bookmaker also alleged that Carpanini was in breach of the conditions of her contract by failing to keep communications confidential.

The matter had been due to be heard on Friday but was adjourned after both parties consented.