British bookmaker Entain will pay a fine of $737.5 million to delay prosecution in a bribery case in Turkey. The UK Tax Authority has also required the company to make a charitable donation of $25 million and to pay $12.5 million to cover the department's investigation costs.
In 2011, Entain established a Turkish subsidiary, Headlong Limited, and later sold it in 2017 for €150 million. However, the company subsequently reneged on the payment, prompting the UK Tax Authority to initiate an investigation into illegal sales and bribery. Entain's management acknowledged that the case involved former external suppliers and employees' misconduct. In 2023, the Tax Authority concluded the investigation and imposed the fine.
Entain's Chairman Barry Gibson commented that since the former management sold the Turkish business, the company has undergone significant changes. He agreed to pay the fine and make the donation to settle the matter.
Entain is an international betting company with subsidiaries including British bookmaker Coral and North American sports betting operator BetMGM. Among its gaming brands are PartyPoker and Foxy Casino, which focus on slot machines and poker platforms.
