A civil case brought against the Gambling Commission by former gambling executives Lee Feldman and Kenny Alexander has been dismissed by the High Court, with the claimants ordered to pay the regulator’s legal costs.
The ruling was issued on 19 January 2026 following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. Feldman and Alexander had alleged that the Gambling Commission misused their private information and breached confidentiality during its involvement in their attempted takeover of online gambling operator 888.
The dispute dates back to 2023, when Feldman and Alexander sought to acquire control of 888. The deal ultimately collapsed after the Gambling Commission informed 888 that its operating licence could be subject to review.
The regulator raised concerns linked to the pair’s previous senior roles at Entain, which at the time was under investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for alleged bribery connected to its former Turkish operations.
As part of that process, the Commission asked 888 whether it was aware of whether the two executives had been interviewed under caution or were suspects in the investigation, known as Operation Incendiary.
In a market update, 888 stated it had been unable to obtain sufficient assurances to address the regulator’s concerns.
Feldman and Alexander argued that the Gambling Commission breached their privacy by prompting disclosures about the licence review and the reasons behind it.
However, Mrs Justice Eady dismissed all elements of the claim and ordered the pair to cover the Commission’s costs on a standard basis.
A temporary reporting restriction has been imposed, meaning the court’s detailed reasoning cannot currently be made public.
The Gambling Commission said it welcomed the dismissal. A spokesperson for Feldman and Alexander confirmed that they intend to appeal the decision.
Separately, both men are among 11 defendants facing criminal charges of fraud and bribery linked to the same HMRC investigation, with a trial scheduled to begin in 2028.
The case adds to recent legal activity involving the regulator. Earlier this month, the High Court heard accusations from Richard Desmond and the New Lottery Company against the Gambling Commission regarding alleged unlawful contract alterations to the fourth UK Lottery licence, which was awarded to Allwyn in 2022. Additionally, the Commission published its 2024/25 Trust Statement in early January, revealing it contributed £3.127m to the Government's Consolidated Fund through financial penalties and the Economic Crime Levy.
Entain agreed to a £615m deferred prosecution agreement in 2023 in relation to HMRC’s investigation into its former Turkish business operations
