Kenny Alexander, the former CEO of GVC Holdings (now Entain Plc), has lost his civil case against the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Alexander, together with his former colleague Lee Feldman who previously served as Entain’s Chair, launched a civil case against the regulator in 2025, accusing it of mishandling private information and breaching privacy clauses during a 2023 investigation.

The UKGC probe resulted from Alexander and Feldman making an attempt to secure shares in 888 (now Evoke) through their investment vehicle FS Gaming. 

Concerns were raised due to the pair’s previous history with Entain at a time of heightened tension with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over allegations of bribery in Turkey, which took place while the firm was trading under the name GVC Holdings.

With a potential threat of revoking 888’s licence as a result of the UKGC investigation, the takeover attempt was subsequently abandoned, with Alexander and Feldman later taking the UKGC to court.

However, the Commission has revealed that the civil case has been dismissed by the Royal Courts of Justice and that Justice Eady ordered the claimants to pay the Commission’s legal costs. No reasoning for the decision has been made public at this stage, as reporting restrictions remain in place. 

As per the previous HMRC investigation, Entain reached a deferred prosecution agreement to pay the Crown Prosecution Service £615m, which included a £585m financial penalty, a £20m charity donation, and £10m in legal expenses. 

The settlement was negotiated by former Entain Chair Barry Gibson, who assured HMRC that Entain had changed fundamentally as a business since its 2020 rebrand from GVC.

In November 2025, London’s Southwark Crown Court designated three separate trials of individuals charged with fraud and bribery in connection with the investigation into GVC’s activities, with that of Alexander and Feldman scheduled to start on 14 February 2028.