The world’s largest online gambling enterprise placed big bets in 2020, working to expand its global footprint—and, in doing so, make recreational gambling part of more people’s lives. The Dublin-based company finished merging with Stars Group, owner of industry giant PokerStars, and moved to own almost all of FanDuel, America’s top betting app (which has exploded beyond fantasy sports like rival DraftKings), as states such as Michigan and Tennessee legalize sports wagering. “Nowhere has our growth been more evident than in the U.S.,” says CEO Peter Jackson. Even with sports schedules curtailed in 2020, Flutter’s U.S. revenue rose by 81% to almost $1 billion, in a market it forecasts reaching $20 billion by 2025.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
