FanDuel to make Genetski permanent CEO in January

• Christian Genetski to become permanent FanDuel CEO from January 1, 2027.
• Flutter CEO Dan Taylor confirmed the decision in an internal staff email.
• Genetski has led FanDuel on an interim basis since Amy Howe’s exit in May.

FanDuel will keep Christian Genetski as chief executive, making the role permanent from January 1, 2027. Flutter Entertainment CEO Dan Taylor told staff in an internal email, first reported by Front Office Sports.

No outside search

Flutter Entertainment has not announced the appointment publicly, and FanDuel declined to comment to FOS. Taylor’s email, dated November 2, makes clear the group never looked far for a successor to Amy Howe.

Dan Taylor, CEO at Flutter Entertainment, said:

“Christian has done a fantastic job leading FanDuel on an interim basis. He knows the business inside out, has been part of its growth from the beginning, and understands the team and the opportunities ahead. Making the appointment permanent gives FanDuel continuity at an important point in its growth and means the team can keep building on the progress already made.”

Genetski’s pay package has not been disclosed. Howe drew a base salary of about $1.06 million in fiscal 2025, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing cited by FOS. Her total compensation that year was almost $9 million.

Six months of pressure

Genetski took over on May 6, the day Flutter announced Howe’s departure alongside its first-quarter results. Howe had run FanDuel since 2021.

The share price explains why the board wanted a settled leadership team. Flutter stock is down almost 60% this year, according to FOS, with a recovery of more than 16% over the past month. DraftKings is down more than 36% over the same period.

Cost cuts followed quickly. Within weeks of the change, FanDuel laid off several hundred sportsbook staff as Flutter reorganized its US business.

The May reshuffle also made Taylor president of Flutter, putting FanDuel under his watch alongside the International division he already ran. He replaced Peter Jackson as group CEO on October 1.

A lawyer at the top

Genetski is not a product or trading executive. He spent his early FanDuel years as chief legal officer, leading talks with New York and other states over daily fantasy sports.

FanDuel credits him with working alongside legislators and regulators to open up US sports betting. He also helped secure official deals with the NFL, NBA, NHL and PGA Tour.

He became president in July 2022. That role covered business development, corporate strategy, partnerships and government affairs.

Genetski stayed off Flutter’s August earnings call. He set out his position on LinkedIn instead, after a second quarter shaped by the World Cup and NBA Finals.

Christian Genetski, interim CEO at FanDuel, said:

“We executed exceptionally well through the FIFA World Cup and NBA Finals, delivering great experiences during two of the biggest moments on the sports calendar. That performance gives us confidence to increase investment in the second half of the year as we continue strengthening our products and extending our leadership position.”

The Utah problem

The regulatory fight he will inherit centers on prediction markets. FanDuel launched FanDuel Predicts late last year as its answer to Kalshi and Polymarket.

By January, the app was live in all 50 states, though sports contracts were initially limited to 18. Last week, FanDuel switched off sports, politics and novelty trading for Utah users.

The decision came after Utah filed felony charges against Kalshi and its two co-founders.

Washington is asking questions too. A group of lawmakers led by Senator Richard Blumenthal is scrutinizing FanDuel’s VIP program.

That inquiry traces back to July. The Inquirer published a video that MLB star Bryce Harper recorded for a FanDuel VIP customer in November 2024.

Wednesday’s numbers

Flutter publishes third-quarter results on November 4, with an analyst call at 8:30am ET. It is Taylor’s first quarterly report as group CEO.

Analysts will be looking for evidence that the second-half investment Genetski promised in August has paid off in handle and customer numbers.

Nebraska voters also decide today on online sports betting. FanDuel and DraftKings have helped fund that campaign to $14.65 million.

League partners, suppliers and state regulators now know who will sign off on FanDuel’s US plans next year. They are dealing with a CEO who built his career on state-by-state negotiation rather than product.