Kenny Alexander and Lee Feldman have failed in a civil legal challenge against the UK Gambling Commission after a court dismissed their claim that the regulator breached their right to privacy.
The ruling, issued on Monday (19 January), represents a setback for the two former gambling executives, who are already facing separate criminal proceedings related to allegations of bribery and fraud.
The civil case centred on the gaming regulator’s handling of a licence review linked to the pair’s attempted takeover of 888 Holdings.
Alexander and Feldman argued that the regulator unlawfully infringed their privacy by triggering a public statement that revealed both the existence of the licence review and the underlying reasons for it.
They maintained that this disclosure exceeded what was necessary and caused reputational harm.
The court (London’s Royal Courts of Justice) rejected those arguments and dismissed the claim, ordering both claimants to pay the UKGC’s legal costs.
While the regulator confirmed the outcome, it did not disclose further detail on the court’s reasoning.
The dismissal nonetheless reinforces the commission’s authority to communicate regulatory actions when it deems disclosure necessary in the public interest, particularly in cases involving licence suitability.
Failed 888 takeover and regulatory scrutiny
Alexander and Feldman, who previously served as CEO and chair of Entain, respectively, initiated the lawsuit last year following the collapse of their proposed move to gain control of 888.
That transaction unravelled after the UKGC informed 888 that its UK operating licence would be reviewed.
The regulator cited concerns related to the executives’ historical roles at Entain, where their activity is under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs for alleged bribery offences.
Those concerns ultimately halted the takeover talks, placing regulatory scrutiny at the centre of the dispute.
The onus of the civil claim was to establish that the commission’s disclosure went beyond its statutory remit, a position the court did not accept.
Separately, Alexander and Feldman are among 11 individuals who have since been formally charged with fraud and bribery offences connected to the Entain investigation.
That criminal case is scheduled to proceed to trial in 2028, marking a prolonged legal timeline for all defendants.
Although the civil action has been dismissed, the judgment leaves the door open for further legal challenge.
According to reporting by The Guardian, legal representatives for Alexander and Feldman have confirmed their intention to appeal the decision.
Any appeal would extend the litigation, but does not alter the current standing of the Gambling Commission’s regulatory actions or the ongoing criminal proceedings.
