Ex-Entain CEO Kenny Alexander Trial Set for February 2028
Summary
A provisional trial date has been set for 14 February 2028 at Southwark Crown Court for former GVC (now Entain) chief executive Kenny Alexander and a number of former colleagues over alleged bribery and fraud linked to the company’s Turkish operations between 2011 and 2018. The judge confirmed the proceedings will be split into three parts: the first, featuring Alexander, Lee Feldman and five others, may last up to four months; later parts are scheduled for October 2028 and March 2029 and will involve other ex-executives including Robert Hoskin.
The defendants face a range of charges including conspiracy to bribe, conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent trading, evasion of income tax, acting as a director while an undischarged bankrupt and perverting the course of justice. In total 11 people have been charged. Entain previously acknowledged misconduct by former employees and third-party suppliers and agreed to pay a GBP 585 million penalty under the UK Bribery Act, plus GBP 20 million to charity and GBP 10 million towards CPS and HMRC costs.
Key Points
- Provisional trial start date: 14 February 2028; the first part could run for up to four months.
- Charges relate to GVC’s Turkey activities (2011–2018) conducted via subsidiary Headlong Limited.
- Alleged offences include bribery, fraud, tax evasion and perverting the course of justice; 11 people face seven offences.
- Entain previously paid GBP 585m following an investigation under the UK Bribery Act, plus additional charitable and cost payments.
- Defence teams warned of a “blizzard of material”; the judge declined to move the trial from Southwark to avoid disruption and extra costs.
Context and relevance
This is a high-profile corporate criminal case involving senior figures from one of the UK’s largest gambling groups. The trials will test legal accountability for international compliance failings and could have material regulatory, financial and reputational implications across the gambling sector. Stakeholders in compliance, investor relations and racing (Alexander remains a prominent owner) should watch developments closely.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: this trial matters. It’s about serious alleged wrongdoing at senior levels, huge fines already paid, and a timeline that will occupy the industry for years. If you care about gambling regulation, corporate governance or the future of Entain, this is worth your attention — we’ve boiled the essentials down so you don’t have to wade through court papers.
Source
Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/ex-entain-ceo-kenny-alexander-trial-set-for-february-2028/