Ex-Entain CEO Kenny Alexander trial set for February 2028 over bribery and fraud charges

Kenny Alexander, former Entain CEO, will face trial in February 2028 over bribery and fraud charges related to the company’s operations in Turkey.

• Trial for Kenny Alexander and six others scheduled for February 14, 2028, at Southwark Crown Court.
• Charges involve conspiracy to bribe, conspiracy to defraud, and related offences spanning 2011-2018.
• Case split into three trials, with subsequent hearings planned in late 2028 and 2029.

Kenny Alexander, ex-chief executive of Entain (formerly GVC Holdings), is set to stand trial in February 2028 at Southwark Crown Court in London. The trial will focus on allegations of conspiracy to bribe and conspiracy to defraud, among other charges, tied to gambling operations in Turkey between 2011 and 2018.

The case involves a group of senior former executives from Entain, with Alexander joined by at least six other defendants in the first trial phase starting February 14, 2028, and scheduled to last about four months.

These legal proceedings stem from investigations into the provision of gambling services in the Turkish market when Alexander led the now FTSE 100 company.

The crimes alleged include bribery, fraud against financial institutions, fraudulent trading, evasion of income tax, and more. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and HM Revenue and Customs have collaborated on this complex investigation.

The charges arise partly from an earlier Deferred Prosecution Agreement that Entain reached in 2023, involving a settlement of £615 million but without implicating current employees or the company itself.

Other key defendants in the initial trial include former GVC chairman Lee Feldman and ex-chief financial officer Richard Cooper. Two further trials are planned for late 2028 and early 2029 to address additional defendants and charges, reflecting the breadth and complexity of the case.

Kenny Alexander transformed Entain, orchestrating its £4 billion acquisition of Ladbrokes Coral, shaping the company into an industry powerhouse before his departure in 2020. Both Alexander and the company have stated that the case will be vigorously contested, while Entain has confirmed it faces no charges and none of the individuals charged are current employees.

This trial marks a critical legal milestone for the iGaming sector, testing accountability for historic international operations amid increasing regulatory scrutiny. The outcome will be closely watched by operators, regulators, and investors concerned with governance and compliance in global gambling markets.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the prosecution of 11 individuals for seven offences relating to bribery, conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent trading, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax, acting as a director of a company when undischarged bankrupt and perverting the course of justice,” stated Hannah von Dadelszen, Chief Crown Prosecutor at CPS, in the official CPS charging statement released on August 27, 2025.

“This has been a complex and international investigation. These are serious charges that relate to conspiracy to defraud, bribery, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax and perverting the course of justice among others,” added Richard Las, Director of HMRC’s fraud investigation service in the same press release.

The broadly scoped trials highlight increased enforcement on cross-border gambling activities and set precedent for how historic corporate conduct in the industry is addressed. The staggered trial dates allow thorough examination of voluminous evidence and multiple defendants, influencing regulatory policies and corporate risk management in iGaming for years to come.​

Photo credit: David Rose / The Telegraph