Jake Henson: Chief Executive Officer, BetMakers Technology Group

Jake Henson is Chief Executive Officer of BetMakers Technology Group, the ASX-listed wagering technology supplier behind tote and racing-data platforms. Its systems are used by operators worldwide. He was promoted into the role on 31 January 2023, succeeding founder Todd Buckingham. Buckingham moved into a new Chief Growth Officer position focused on international expansion. Henson had been Chief Operating Officer at BetMakers before that promotion. He now leads a company Tabcorp has agreed to buy for $267 million. That deal, announced in August 2026, would end BetMakers’ run as an independent public company. Among the operators covered in our executives directory, Henson’s tenure is entering its final stretch as a standalone chief executive. Whether the deal closes as planned will decide what comes next for him and the business he runs.

Jake Henson’s Career Timeline at BetMakers

Here’s how an internal promotion put Henson in charge just as BetMakers headed toward its biggest deal yet.

• 2013 – The corporate entity that becomes BetMakers is incorporated in Australia, later built by founder Todd Buckingham into a global wagering-technology supplier listed on the ASX.
• Before 2023 – Henson joins BetMakers and rises to Chief Operating Officer. His exact start date and career before the company aren’t documented in accessible public filings or coverage.
• 31 January 2023 – Henson is promoted to Chief Executive Officer as part of a board and management restructuring. Buckingham moves into a new Chief Growth Officer role focused on international growth.
• December 2025 – BetMakers signs a three-year racing-technology supply deal with Stake.com, its first agreement with the crypto-led operator.
• 10 August 2026 – Tabcorp agrees to acquire BetMakers for $267 million, a deal unanimously recommended by the BetMakers board.
• 1 September 2026 – BetMakers reports FY26 results showing adjusted EBITDA up 205%, its strongest year yet, just weeks after the takeover announcement.

Henson’s own path to the corner office isn’t as well documented as most executives in this directory. Public filings and industry coverage confirm his COO-to-CEO promotion in detail. They don’t say when he joined the company or what he did beforehand.

Why Jake Henson’s Tabcorp Deal Matters

Henson took charge of a company built to survive as an independent supplier. He may end up closing his tenure out as somebody else’s division head instead.

• Todd Buckingham (founder, to January 2023) – built BetMakers into a global wagering-technology supplier before moving into a growth-focused role rather than departing.
• Jake Henson (January 2023–present) – the company’s first Chief Executive promoted from within, rather than hired externally or installed by a founder.
• Under Henson, BetMakers grew FY26 revenue to $92.6 million, up 8.8%, while adjusted EBITDA more than tripled to $14.1 million.
• On 10 August 2026, Tabcorp offered $267 million, a 41% premium to BetMakers’ one-month trading price, to fold the company’s platforms into its own wagering business.

Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan called BetMakers’ technology and team “impressive.” Henson said combining “Tabcorp’s rights and content with BetMakers’ platforms will create a more compelling global offering.” If the deal closes, Henson’s job changes completely. He’d go from running an independent ASX company to leading a division inside a much larger one. That’s an unusual note for any CEO profile to end on, and it’s the one defining his tenure right now.

Regulatory and Deal Context Facing Jake Henson

BetMakers operates across multiple wagering jurisdictions. Its pending sale adds a fresh layer of regulatory process on top of that.

• BetMakers supplies tote and racing-technology services under wagering laws that vary by state and country. It works with racing bodies and licensed operators rather than holding betting licences of its own in most markets.
• The Tabcorp acquisition needs BetMakers shareholder approval, court approval of the scheme of arrangement, and clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission before it can complete.
• Both companies have agreed to a $2.83 million break fee if the deal falls over, a routine but real signal of how seriously each side is treating the risk of it not closing.
• BetMakers’ wagering technology already underpins racing products for operators including Stake.com, under the three-year deal signed in December 2025.

None of that process is unusual for a deal this size. It does mean Henson is running the company through a review period whose outcome he doesn’t fully control.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jake Henson

Who is Jake Henson, CEO of BetMakers Technology Group?

Jake Henson is the Chief Executive Officer of BetMakers Technology Group, an ASX-listed wagering-technology supplier. It’s known for its tote and racing-data platforms. He was promoted to the role on 31 January 2023, succeeding founder Todd Buckingham. Henson had previously served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. His career before joining BetMakers isn’t publicly documented in detail.

How did Jake Henson become CEO of BetMakers?

BetMakers promoted Henson from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer on 31 January 2023. The move came as part of a broader management restructuring designed to sharpen the company’s operational focus. Founder Todd Buckingham stepped aside from the CEO role at the same time. He moved into a new Chief Growth Officer position rather than leaving the company.

What is the Tabcorp-BetMakers acquisition?

On 10 August 2026, Tabcorp agreed to acquire BetMakers for $267 million in cash, or $0.24 per share. The BetMakers board unanimously recommended the deal. Tabcorp wants BetMakers’ wagering technology and B2B racing platforms to modernize its own systems. The deal still requires shareholder, court and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval before it can be completed.

What was BetMakers’ financial performance under Jake Henson?

BetMakers reported its strongest financial year yet on 1 September 2026, just weeks after agreeing to the Tabcorp deal. Revenue rose 8.8% to $92.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA more than tripled to $14.1 million, up from $4.6 million the year before. The improvement reflected margin gains across the company’s Global Betting Services and Global Tote divisions.

Is the Tabcorp acquisition of BetMakers complete?

No. As of this writing, the Tabcorp acquisition of BetMakers hadn’t completed. It still needs approval from BetMakers shareholders, the courts and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Tabcorp has targeted completion for the third quarter of its 2027 financial year. Until then, Henson continues running BetMakers as an independent company.

Curious how other wagering and technology leaders are handling industry consolidation? Browse more gambling executive profiles from across the sector.

Gambling Executive Sources

Career timeline

• Henson takes over BetMakers CEO duties from Buckingham – SBC News
• Betmakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX:BET) Leadership & Management Team Analysis – Simply Wall St
• Betmakers Technology Group (ASX:BET) Company Profile & Description – stockanalysis.com

Why this deal matters

• Tabcorp to acquire BetMakers in $267 million deal – iGaming Business
• BetMakers FY26 slides: EBITDA surges 205% as margins near target – Investing.com
• BetMakers to power Stake’s global racing expansion – Gaming Intelligence

Regulatory and deal context

Tabcorp to Acquire BetMakers Technology Group for $0.24 Per Share in $267 Million Deal – Kalkine