Burendo: Why learning from US betting giants could help European operators get the most from legacy platforms

Tom Walton, Director at Burendo, shares how the technology consultants are helping European operators squeeze more value from their existing technology by taking inspiration from US market leaders.

Established European markets have long been at the forefront of betting technology and regulation, yet leading operators across the Atlantic are increasingly pushing the envelope on user experience, product development and market agility. Major sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel have the deep pockets to build flexible proprietary technology, outpacing smaller rivals, while many European operators continue to rely on cookie cutter legacy technology that struggles to resonate with customers.

Setting the pace in the US

The rapid success of market leaders like DraftKings and FanDuel has not only redefined the US sports betting landscape but highlighted key lessons in user acquisition and innovation. One of the major differentiators between the US giants and smaller European operators is their ability to invest in and build their own technology tailored to the demands of modern sports bettors.

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FanDuel’s SGP+ feature offers a new layer to the betting experience by combining multiple bets from the same game with more bets from other games in one parlay. At the end of 2024, ESPN Bet announced an account linking feature that allows bettors to seamless switch to watching live sports, in turn helping the operator to better curate custom bets as the technology tracks their viewing preferences. In the same vein, DraftKings’ Sportsbook+ subscription service, launched in January 2025, allows subscribers to access better odds on parlays for $20 per month, and is the first of its kind. While same-game parlays and streaming also enjoy significant success in Europe, the Americans are leading the way with heavy promotions, marketing, and specialised technology designed to disrupt the market. The advantages are clear – bigger US operators with more financial power can offer customers a seamless, mobile-first experience that is tailored to their needs. They have the flexibility to take bigger risks and innovate rapidly, without being tied to technical limitations of outdated infrastructure. While their wall-to-wall advertising and marketing budgets are ahead of the game, their technology is equally as important to their success.

In Europe, operators may strive to build their own platforms but come up against a series of hurdles. Financially, it is a major undertaking and without the technical expertise, could lead to missteps. This is where Burendo can step in. Our consultancy team partners with operators to identify key opportunities for leveraging existing technology, helping them to innovate and scale in a cost effective and risk-mitigated manner.

We understand that near-identical user interfaces that offer similar player journeys to competitors cannot drive meaningful growth. For many operators in the UK and other regulated European markets, it can seem daunting to introduce entire new systems. However, transforming legacy platforms is not as overwhelming as it may appear. By streamlining processes and leveraging handpicked solutions and technologies, Burendo enables its clients to squeeze more value from their existing platforms and craft compelling experiences. We empower them with the skills to continuously improve long after our engagement, ensuring their systems remain adaptable in an ever-evolving market.

Innovation without breaking the bank

Technological improvements do not require a large budget. Operators can uncover real value by working with our expert teams, who leverage more than 40 years of combined experience in highly regulated markets, to deliver cost-effective, impactful solutions that prioritise long-term success over short-term fixes. Whether optimising an existing platform or introducing new features and capabilities, the goal is always to deliver measurable improvements that are built for the future.

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Through our tailored approach, operators can innovate affordably, unlocking the power of their existing systems without the need for a complete overhaul. We help European operators bridge the gap between legacy systems and the innovation driving success in America. With our expertise of transforming sportsbooks, we can reinvigorate platforms without complexity or high costs commonly associated with changing provider or building sportsbooks from scratch.