Entain and BetCity dispute: preliminary hearing cancelled

A major preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 31 in the case between gambling giant Entain and the former owners of BetCity. However, that is no longer the case. Both parties have decided that the hearing will not take place.

Why exactly did they agree to that? That remains a mystery for the time being. It could mean that they are trying to work it out behind the scenes, but that has not been confirmed anywhere.

Why the hearing will not take place

The preliminary hearing was originally intended to prepare the lawsuit between Entain and the former owners of BetCity. Think of a kind of preliminary meeting where the lawyers and judges consider how the case should proceed. But now there is suddenly no hearing anymore.

This was confirmed on October 9 by the High Court for Commercial Disputes in the United Kingdom. CasinoNieuws.nl was the first to report the news, but they too did not receive an explanation as to why the hearing was cancelled.

The only information we have is that both parties have mutually chosen not to proceed. What does this mean for the progress of the case? That remains a matter of guesswork for now. There is always a chance that they will reschedule the hearing later, if necessary.

Entain and BetCity are keeping their lips sealed

You would think that both parties would want to say a little more about what is going on, but no. Both Entain and the former owners of BetCity are not commenting. A bit typical, because usually something is released. Entain’s PR manager Chris Alfred was also short and sweet: “We do not comment on ongoing cases.”

The fact that the hearing is not going ahead does not mean that the dispute has been resolved. It is possible that there will be a lot more fighting to come, but for now it is quiet on both sides.

A claim worth millions in the air

What we do know is that there is more at stake than just a date for a preliminary hearing. In March of this year, the former owners of BetCity hit back with a counterclaim. They are demanding a whopping €104 million from Entain.

What exactly is this counterclaim about? That is not entirely clear yet. What is certain is that it is about a lot of money and that this case is far from over.