Two former high-ranking executives of the gambling giant Entain, Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, have failed in their attempt to sue the UK Gambling Commission over the regulator’s involvement in their failed bid to take control of online casino company 888.
Alexander, the former chief executive, and Feldman, the former chair of Entain – which owns Ladbrokes and Coral – had accused the Gambling Commission of breaching their right to privacy. They claimed the regulator’s intervention in their 888 takeover attempt, citing concerns over their past roles at Entain, had led to a public disclosure they were being investigated.
However, on Monday, Mr Justice Eady dismissed the pair’s case and ordered them to pay the Gambling Commission’s legal costs. The judge’s full reasoning cannot be disclosed due to a temporary reporting restriction.
The failed civil case comes as Alexander and Feldman face separate criminal charges of bribery and fraud. They are among 11 defendants set to stand trial in 2028 over an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) into alleged bribery in Entain’s Turkish operations between 2011 and 2018.
Entain agreed in 2023 to pay £615 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement related to the HMRC investigation. A spokesperson for Alexander and Feldman said the pair plan to appeal against the dismissal of their civil case against the Gambling Commission.
A Gambling Commission spokesperson welcomed the court’s decision, saying: “We welcome the dismissal.”
The high-profile case highlights the increasing scrutiny and legal troubles facing senior figures in the UK’s gambling industry. As regulators crack down on misconduct, some former executives are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law.