Two former Entain executives, Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, have suffered a loss in the civil case against the UK Gambling Commission, in which they claimed the regulator violated their privacy.
The Failed 888 Takeover Story
The pair, facing criminal charges of fraud and bribery, had argued that the commission’s actions during their failed attempt to take over online casino operator 888 went against their rights.
The dispute goes back to when Alexander, former chief executive officer, and Feldman, ex-chair of Ladbrokes’ and Coral’s parent company, attempted to acquire 888.
The deal fell through after the Gambling Commission warned 888 that its licence would be reviewed due to concerns over the executives’ prior roles at Entain.
At the time, Entain was under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs for alleged bribery in its Turkish operations between 2011 and 2018, under a probe codenamed Operation Incendiary.
The commission asked 888 if Alexander and Feldman had been interviewed under caution or were suspects in the investigation. According to 888, the company could not get “the most basic assurances” to address these concerns, which further led to the eventual collapse of the takeover talks.
Judge Dimissed the Case
Alexander and Feldman claimed the regulator breached their privacy by issuing a statement that disclosed both the licence review and the reasons behind it. On Monday, Mrs Justice Eady decided to dismiss their case and ordered the pair to cover the Gambling Commission’s legal costs.
The reasoning behind the respective judgment is still under a temporary reporting restriction.
In 2023, Entain had already agreed to pay GBP 615 million ($828.5 million) under a deferred prosecution agreement relating to the HMRC investigation.
Alexander and Feldman are two of 11 people charged in connection with the alleged bribery and fraud charges that have shadowed the company’s Turkish legacy for almost 10 years, with a criminal trial set for 2028.
Since Entain did not count among the defendants, the deferred deal helped it protect itself from additional prosecution. However, involved individuals were not shielded in a similar manner.A spokesperson for the two executives said they plan to appeal the civil judgment. Meanwhile, the Gambling Commission welcomed the dismissal.