- Founded
- 1997-01-01 in Poland
- Headquarters
- Warsaw, Poland
STS is a Polish licensed sports betting operator and one of Central and Eastern Europe's largest bookmakers. Founded in Poland in 1997, the company grew into the dominant licensed operator in Poland's regulated betting market, holding a leading market share for well over a decade through a combination of retail betting shops and an in-house-developed online betting platform. STS offers sports betting via its web sportsbook at sts.pl, native iOS and Android mobile applications, and a nationwide retail network. In 2021, UK-listed gambling group Entain acquired a 75% stake in STS in a transaction valuing the Polish bookmaker at approximately £750 million, with Mateusz Juroszek, CEO since 2013, remaining at the helm of the business. Under Entain's ownership, STS extended its footprint internationally, including entry into the UK online market. In 2025, Entain began unwinding its Central and Eastern European interests, agreeing to divest an initial 20% of its CEE business with a full exit planned, returning majority control of STS to the Juroszek family. Headquartered in Warsaw, STS reported approximately 900 employees around the time of the Entain acquisition.
Detailed Review
Origins and Growth
STS was established in 1997 in Poland by the Juroszek family and built its position as a retail-led bookmaker before the Polish market was formally regulated under the amended Gambling Act of 2009, which introduced a licensing regime administered by the Polish Ministry of Finance. STS secured one of the early licences and subsequently converted its retail strength into sustained market leadership, outperforming international rivals in the domestic market for years. Mateusz Juroszek, son of founder Zbigniew Juroszek, joined the company in 2004 and became CEO in 2013; under his leadership STS invested heavily in proprietary technology, data-driven marketing and mobile product development, becoming known in the industry for sophisticated player-acquisition capabilities.
Products and Operations
STS operates a vertically integrated model: its platform, trading systems and risk management are largely developed in-house, supporting a web sportsbook, mobile betting apps for iOS and Android, and a network of several hundred licensed retail betting outlets across Poland. The company's consumer brand is simply "STS". Following the Entain acquisition, STS added a UK-facing online operation under its own brand, building on licences obtained in 2021.
Entain Era and the 2024-25 Divestment
In July 2021, Entain, then known as GVC Holdings, agreed to acquire a 75% stake in STS in a deal reported at approximately £750 million, completing the transaction in December 2021. The acquisition was part of Entain's strategy to consolidate regulated European markets. However, under a later change of strategic direction, Entain moved to exit its Central and Eastern European operations. According to the article that identifies this company for research purposes, Entain agreed to divest an initial 20% of its CEE business with a full exit planned, in a staged sale negotiated with the Juroszek family that returns majority ownership of STS to its founding family, with the full exit expected to follow.
Licensing and Market Position
STS operates under a Polish Ministry of Finance sports betting licence and holds licences in other regulated jurisdictions where it operates online. It is widely cited as Poland's largest legal bookmaker and one of the region's most valuable private betting businesses.
Key Products
STS Online Sportsbook (sts.pl)
Web-based sports betting platform with pre-match and live betting across a broad range of sports, powered by in-house trading and risk-management technology.
STS Mobile Apps
Native sports betting applications for iOS and Android, central to the company's player-acquisition and engagement strategy.
STS Retail Betting Network
A nationwide chain of several hundred licensed betting shops across Poland, which formed the foundation of STS's historical market leadership.
In-House Betting Technology Platform
Proprietary odds, trading and risk-management systems developed internally, underpinning both the retail and online betting products.
STS Brand / UK Online Operation
The "STS" consumer brand extended into international markets; after 2021 the brand was also used for STS's UK online betting site.
Offices & Headcount
900 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Mateusz Juroszek
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Zbigniew Juroszek
Founder
Recent News
Entain Divests Central and Eastern Europe Stake Amid UK Tax Hike and Polish Regulatory Hurdles
Entain is divesting its stake in the high-performing Entain CEE unit, including SuperSport and STS, a move largely driven by significant UK tax increases and long-term regulatory hurdles in Poland. The €425 million initial sale to EMMA Capital aims to reduce company debt and streamline operations, despite the CEE division's strong revenue and EBITDA growth.
2026-07-06
Entain Commences Full Exit from CEE Operations with 20% Divestment to EMMA Capital
Entain has announced an agreement to sell a 20% stake in its CEE business to EMMA Capital for approximately €425 million, marking the initial phase of a complete withdrawal from its Polish and Croatian markets. This strategic move aims to enhance shareholder value, simplify the group's structure, and improve financial flexibility, with full divestment proceeds intended to reduce debt and leverage.
2026-06-25