Former Ladbrokes Chief to Appear in UK Court over Bribery Charges

This case remains one of the most significant criminal prosecutions in the UK gambling sector, potentially revealing the full scope of the alleged wrongdoingsImage Source: Shutterstock.com

Ex-LadbrokesCEOKenny Alexanderappeared in a London courtroom on Monday alongside other former senior figures from the gambling industry. The defendants face allegations of bribery and fraud linked to the operator’s controversial past operations in Turkey. If found guilty, the accused could facesubstantial penalties, including up to 10 years’ imprisonment and significant fines.

The Legal Proceedings Are Now Underway

Alexander, now 56, was the former chief executive of Entain (then GVC Holdings) between 2011 and 2018. He stands charged with conspiracy to bribe and conspiracy to defraud for his actions during the period. Alexander is one of the11 individualsaccused by the UK Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) after a prolonged investigation byHer Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Other defendants include former GVC executives and individuals linked to third-party payment processors and technology partners. Notable names includeLee Feldman(ex-chairman), Richard Cooper(ex-chief financial officer), James Humberstone(ex-trading director), and Scott Masterston (director of e-Technologies Global). Robert Hoskin, former chief governance officer at Entain, stands accused of perverting the course of justice earlier this year.

This case was formally sent to Southwark Crown Courtafter a brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3 November. The magistrate indicated the case might be transferred later for trial to Leeds Crown Court due to reasons of scale and complexity.

Entain Is Not a Defendant in This Case

The charges relate to GVC’s former Turkish-facing business, Headlong Limited, which was sold in 2017. At the time, GVC claimed to have entirely exited the Turkish market. However, subsequent investigations uncovered alleged irregularitiesinvolving payments to third-party suppliers and suspected bribery related to licensing and local operations.

Entain itself is not among the defendants. The company reached a deferred prosecutionagreement with UK authorities in 2023, agreeing to pay £585 million($788.7 million) in penalties, with an additional £30 million($40.45 million) in donations and legal costs to settle corporate liability for its historic activities in Turkey. That deal shielded the company from further prosecution but did not protect implicated individuals.

A lawyer representing Alexander refused to comment on Monday, but previously told Financial Times that the former CEO intends to defend himself vigorouslyagainst all allegations. With the first substantive hearing scheduled for early November, the coming months will likely shed further lighton the alleged wrongdoings that have shadowed Entain’s Turkish legacy for nearly a decade.