臺北新聞熱綫

(AsiaGameHub) –   Richard Desmond has pledged to persist with his legal challenge following a significant court loss. The UK High Court rejected his demand for GBP 1.3 billion ($1.77 billion) in damages regarding the selection of Allwyn as the operator of the UK’s National Lottery. Mrs Justice Joanna Smith threw out the lawsuit entirely, determining that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) managed the tender process appropriately.

Plaintiffs Demanded Significant Compensation

This decision represents a major hurdle for Desmond, whose business interests have spent years contesting the awarding of one of Britain’s most valuable government contracts. The media entrepreneur had fiercely challenged the 10-year license granted to Allwyn in 2022. The Czech firm officially assumed operations in 2024, succeeding Camelot.

Desmond’s bid for the lottery license was submitted via his Northern & Shell firm and a specialized entity called The New Lottery Company. His bid was unsuccessful. His legal representatives contended that the procedure was compromised, asserting that the UKGC provided biased feedback to competitors and failed to adhere to its own regulations. They argued these shortcomings warranted a new bidding round and significant financial restitution.

Desmond’s side maintained that these alleged procedural failures forced them to incur millions in wasted bidding expenses. At its peak, the lawsuit requested damages based on anticipated profits throughout the license’s duration. A victory for the plaintiffs could have significantly impacted the resources reserved for lottery-funded charitable causes and resulted in major operational instability.

The Case May Be Heading for an Appeal

The UK High Court flatly rejected Desmond’s claims. In her judgment, Mrs Justice Smith found no proof of any “manifest error” in the competition’s management and saw no grounds to invalidate the selection of the winner. She ruled that the process resulted in a legally sound and justifiable outcome.

The claimants have failed to make out any case of manifest error on the part of the commission in their process claim.

Mrs Justice Joanna Smith

Beyond dismissing the suit, the judge criticized the conduct of the case. She characterized the legal strategy as “unfocused,” noting that the core arguments evolved throughout the trial. The abandonment of certain claims late in the process created unnecessary burdens for the defense and complicated the court’s deliberations.

The ruling is a clear victory for both Allwyn and the UKGC. Counsel for the regulator had maintained that the tender was conducted with rigor and fairness, a stance the court ultimately upheld. Following the verdict, a representative for Northern & Shell indicated that the firm intends to appeal, signaling that the legal dispute remains ongoing.