Stelios Haji-Ioannou has stamped the Easy brand on everything from aeroplanes to pizza joints, with varying degrees of success.

Now the billionaire entrepreneur is taking a punt on online sports betting, the Guardian has learned, through a partnership with an offshore gambling firm that is on the comeback trail after having its license suspended in 2020.

EasyBet is a joint-venture with Matchbook, a trading name of Triplebet, which is based on the Channel island of Alderney.