UK regulators get a clean bill of health in court as two ex-gambling bosses fail to challenge their actions.
Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, former top executives at Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, have lost their civil case against the Gambling Commission over allegations that they breached their right to privacy. The regulator, which had intervened in their attempt to take control of 888, a major online casino operator, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The two men claimed that the commission's public statement about its review of 888's licence was an invasion of their privacy and caused them significant distress. However, Judge Mrs Justice Eady rejected this argument, ruling in favour of the Gambling Commission.
The case had sparked debate over the role of regulators in policing the industry and ensuring that companies comply with the law. The commission stated that it acted within its powers to address concerns about Alexander and Feldman's past roles at Entain, which was under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over alleged bribery.
Alexander and Feldman are also facing criminal charges of fraud and bribery related to their time at Entain. Their trial is set to begin in 2028, alongside that of nine other defendants.
The two men plan to appeal against the court's decision, with a spokesperson saying they were "extremely disappointed" by the outcome.
Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman, former top executives at Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, have lost their civil case against the Gambling Commission over allegations that they breached their right to privacy. The regulator, which had intervened in their attempt to take control of 888, a major online casino operator, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The two men claimed that the commission's public statement about its review of 888's licence was an invasion of their privacy and caused them significant distress. However, Judge Mrs Justice Eady rejected this argument, ruling in favour of the Gambling Commission.
The case had sparked debate over the role of regulators in policing the industry and ensuring that companies comply with the law. The commission stated that it acted within its powers to address concerns about Alexander and Feldman's past roles at Entain, which was under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over alleged bribery.
Alexander and Feldman are also facing criminal charges of fraud and bribery related to their time at Entain. Their trial is set to begin in 2028, alongside that of nine other defendants.
The two men plan to appeal against the court's decision, with a spokesperson saying they were "extremely disappointed" by the outcome.
so what else did we expect? like, these guys try to take on a whole country and its regulatory body... good luck with that. 
also, can't say I'm surprised they got shut down, considering all the shady dealings going on in the gambling industry 
it's just a matter of time before they get pinched for their crimes. 2028 can't come soon enough 
I'm kinda surprised by this ruling, you know? Like, isn't it right that regulators have to speak out if they're investigating something shady? I get that Kenny and Lee are upset about their past roles at Entain but c'mon, they can't just sue the commission for speaking up! 
. I'm not mad at the commission though, they just did their job and now they can't be sued for it 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good game of chance? 
. regulators are gonna be regulators no matter what 
. these guys had some shady dealings goin' on and they got caught 
. can't just make up wild stories about the gov't and expect to win a case 
. but i guess when you're tryin to weasel your way out of some serious charges 
, but i'm still rootin for the gov't in this one 
. And now, not only do they have to deal with that, but also a whole lot of other legal troubles? It's just too much 
. I think the commission did what it was supposed to do - keep an eye on these companies and make sure they're playing by the rules. It's like, you can't just hide behind a company umbrella if you've done something wrong 
. and now they're gonna appeal? good luck with that, guys 
. I mean, the commission was just doing its job, right? But at the same time, you can't blame them for wanting to defend themselves against allegations of wrongdoing.
the thing is too much money & power can corrupt anyone guess whats next? 
. It's all about setting boundaries, you know? The commission is just doing its job, and if Kenny and Lee can't handle that, maybe they should've thought twice before trying to take control of 888 