Stars Sports elects Sir Philip Davies as Chairman

Star Sports has appointed former MP Sir Philip Davies as the new Chairman of the British betting group, succeeding Russ Wiseman.

Davies will serve as Chairman of Star Sports after retiring from the House of Commons, ending his 20-year tenure as a Conservative Party MP.

The former MP for Shipley held the seat of the marginal West Yorkshire constituency for four general elections, until being defeated this summer by Labour’s Anna Dixon.

As an MP, Davies was recognised as a strong advocate for the gambling sector, highlighting its role as a key employer in local communities and its support for UK Racing’s rural network and heritage.

During debates on the Gambling Review’s White Paper, Davies criticised the implementation of £125 and £500 net-loss affordability checks, describing them as a threat to UK Racing, stating, “The proposals by the Gambling Commission are completely unacceptable.”

A supporter of the TaxPayers’ Alliance and The Freedom Association, Davies has consistently campaigned for classical liberal values to return to the Conservative Party, often opposing policies and laws endorsed by his party’s leaders and MPs.

Davies said: “I am delighted to be joining Star Sports at such an exciting time in the company’s history. I have been fortunate to get to know Ben [Keith] over the last few years, and I hold great admiration for the business he has built.

“Not many people know that I started my working life in my mother’s betting shop (Marilyn Davies Bookmakers), so the industry is very much in my blood. I’m looking forward to working closely with Ben and his management team to drive the group’s growth strategy and maintain its commitment to operating responsibly.”

Star Sports founder Ben Keith expressed his gratitude to Russ Wiseman for his tenure as the company’s first Chairman: “I want to thank Russ Wiseman for the personal and professional support he has provided over the last two years. I fully respect his decision to step down and wish him a speedy recovery. I look forward to continuing Star’s effective working relationship with Russ in 2025.”

Keith added: “We are delighted to announce Philip as our new Chairman. His wealth of experience makes him a valuable addition to our senior management team, and we look forward to learning from him in the coming years.”