Entain's former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, are suing the company and applying for information shared with prosecutors in a now-settled bribery lawsuit. An Entain spokesperson said, “Entain considers the claim to be without merit and it will contest it robustly.”
Alexander and Feldman filed legal action against Entain, operator of global gambling sportsbooks such as BetMGM, and one of its partnered law firms, Addleshaw Goddard. The pair claims that they are entitled to access the legal advice that was provided to them by the law firm, as well as details of what was and was not shared with third parties, and are asking for the advice to be provided to them.
A spokesperson for Alexander and Feldman commented “Addleshaw Goddard were the claimants’ longtime advisors during the time they built and managed the Entain business and advised them on all material legal issues in connection with Entain’s operations. The claimants are concerned that crucial advice given by Addleshaw Goddard may have been withheld, purportedly on privilege grounds. The claimants are determined to get to the truth of what has gone on here, hence their decision to force full disclosure from Addleshaw Goddard and Entain through this claim.”
The bribery case and investigation this links to was over offenses between 2017 and 2019 when Entain was called GVC Holdings. The company operated a Turkish online gambling brand named Headlong Limited, which it sold to Roposo Malta Limited in 2017.
In 2019, several media reports claimed GVC Holdings continued to benefit from Headlong Limited after it was no longer owned by the company. This was followed by an investigation from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. That investigation expanded to cover offenses under Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010.
However, in Nov. 2023, Entain reached a voluntary Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Crown Prosecution Service. The company had to pay a £585 million penalty and make a £20 million charitable donation. Alexander and Feldman both left Entain in 2020.
Other Entain troubles
This lawsuit isn’t the only legal battle Entain currently faces. In Dec. 2024, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre sued the company for not enforcing anti-money laundering measures and counter-terrorism financing laws through its Ladbrokes brand. Fines from the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism act can result in penalties of up to $14.14 million for each transgression.
Meanwhile, Entain’s CEO, Gavin Isaacs, recently stepped down after just five months in charge. Entain’s non-executive chair, Stella David, temporarily replaced him. David previously served in the role before Isaac’s appointment.
