Kenny Alexander, the ex-CEO of GVC, leads a group of 11 individuals now facing criminal prosecution. The Crown Prosecution Service greenlit charges against Alexander and his former leadership team.
His old CFO Richard Cooper got slapped with matching accusations. Lee Feldman, who chaired the company, faces identical charges too.
The remaining defendants include Robert Douglas Edwin Dowling, Raymond Matthew Smart, Richard Anthony Raubitschek-Smith, and James Patrick Humberstone. All four face conspiracy allegations.
Alexander MacAngus faces a single fraud conspiracy charge. Caroline Patricia Roe confronts four separate accusations including tax fraud.
Scott William Masterton bears the heaviest load – five distinct charges including operating as a director while bankrupt.
Why Regulators Pursued This International Case
HMRC suspected GVC violated the Bribery Act 2010’s Section 7 through Turkish market activities. Their probe examined gambling services delivered from 2011 through 2018.
When GVC transformed into Entain, the business allocated £585 million for prosecutor discussions. This sum ranked among the sector’s biggest potential penalties then.
The accusations encompass seven crime categories. These range from bribery and fraud conspiracies to tax dodging and revenue cheating.
HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service called it complex and international in scope.
What Criminal Accusations Each Defendant Confronts
Alexander faces twin conspiracy charges – defrauding and bribing. Cooper and Feldman confront identical accusations.
Dowling, Smart, Raubitschek-Smith, and Humberstone each face the same dual conspiracy charges.
MacAngus confronts only fraud conspiracy allegations.
Masterton’s situation is most serious. His five charges include conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to bribe, fraudulent trading, revenue cheating, and directing while bankrupt.
Roe faces conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to bribe, fraudulent trading, and income tax evasion.
Hoskin alone faces perverting justice charges.
How This Legal Process Moves Forward
Westminster Magistrates’ Court will host the initial hearing on October 6, 2025.
CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor Hannah von Dadelszen stressed defendants deserve fair trials. She cautioned against media coverage or online discussions that might influence proceedings.
HMRC’s Richard Las described the investigation as both complex and international. He emphasized the charges’ severity but declined further commentary.
Entain released a terse response stating no additional comments on matters under criminal proceedings with reporting restrictions.
The prosecution marks significant regulatory action within gambling. It underscores continuing oversight of operators’ global business methods.
CPS prosecutors collaborated closely with HMRC investigators throughout the process. The case highlights how seriously UK authorities treat corporate misconduct allegations.
These proceedings could reshape industry compliance standards going forward.
