Entain files claim against former BetCity owners in UK Commercial Court
FTSE 100 operator heads down legal route against Singels family and ex-CEO over “commercial contracts and arrangements”
Entain has filed a claim against the former owners of Dutch operator BetCity in relation to “general commercial contracts and arrangements”.
The lawsuit, which was filed on 7 December in the UK’s Commercial Court, has seen Entain’s Dutch subsidiary challenge 10 individuals.
One of the defendants named on the case is former BetCity CEO Melvin Bostelaar, who stepped down from the business in June last year due to health issues.
Also named is former marketing director Robert Kooiman as well as seven members of the Singels family who previously owned the BetCity business.
BetCity itself is named as the 10th defendant, according to details published on legal resource site, Caseboard.
No further details of the claim have been made publicly available at the time of writing.
Entain is being represented by Clifford Chance LLP while the 10 defendants have all appointed multinational law firm Sidley Austin to act on their behalf.
Entain completed an initial €300m payment to acquire BetCity in January 2023 after announcing the deal in June 2022.
The acquisition fast tracked the London-listed operator’s entry into the newly regulated Dutch market.
BetCity was one of the first 10 operators to be granted a licence in the Netherlands when the market regulated in October 2021. It snared a significant amount of market share before being usurped by Unibet upon its return in the summer of 2022.
Entain confirmed to EGR it would not be providing comment as the case was ongoing.
EGR has also contacted Sidley Austin on behalf of the defendants for comment.