Betting & Gaming
The betting and gaming sector has experienced a period of rapid expansion, modernisation and structural change in recent years as ‘re-regulation’, the introduction of new technologies and changing patterns of behaviour have fostered innovation and adaptation on all fronts.
Our betting and gaming team’s understanding of the law and the commercial dynamics of the sector enables us to advise companies across the industry and in multiple jurisdictions.
Our clients include some of the leading online sports betting, poker, bingo and casino sites, together with operators, hardware manufacturers, software providers, brand owners, retailers and service providers specialising in this market.
With a wide range of legal services, we are well placed to support clients in the betting and gaming sector across a range of business and legal challenges.
On the corporate front we advise clients on the key licensing and regulatory issues arising in a due diligence process and on appropriate warranties to ensure gaming law compliance and other necessary regulatory requirements within a corporate transaction.
We are also experienced in advising clients on the rapidly evolving regulatory environment, particularly in the UK where the ‘point of consumption’ legislation introduced in late 2014 has prompted a surge in clients seeking to be regulated here.
On the real estate side we were part of two successful client teams who between them won four of the large casino licences that were granted following the 2005 Gambling Act. Our involvement was in negotiating and entering into the development agreement for lease, together with the lease and ancillary documents with the institutional landlords and carrying out all necessary due diligence. The first two of these casinos have opened and are trading successfully with the remaining two due to open in 2016/2017.
Our expertise in commercial law means we can help clients with joint ventures and partnering arrangements and address the complex issues associated with the burgeoning online, mobile and interactive TV betting and gaming platforms. Much of our work in this area relates to the systems and software behind these developments, as well as user-facing issues such as terms of business, privacy policies and associated data protection compliance.
If you have any questions or queries please call Grant on +44 (0)20 3036 7337 or email ggordon@fladgate.com
If you have any questions or queries please call Stephen on +44 (0)20 3036 7231 or email slewis@fladgate.com
Chambers GlobalGrant Gordon leads Fladgate LLP’s betting and gaming practice and is noted for his extensive experience of cross-border corporate work and his knowledge of gaming technology. He is dual-qualified in South Africa and England & Wales, and heads the firm’s South Africa practice.
Industries
Regularly retained by owners, operators, investment vehicles and developers to act on complex projects, throughout the UK. Serves clients across the full gamut of the market including those with gaming, cinema, hotel and restaurant assets. Advised Global Gaming Ventures on the acquisition of two casino properties in England worth a combined £32.6 million. Acted for Starboard Hotels on its acquisition of a portfolio of Ibis hotels from Accor through a purchase and franchise agreement. Stephen Lewis is a key client contact.
Chambers UK
Grant Gordon’s practice at Fladgate LLP is part of a larger team that provides IT, IP and M&A expertise. The team advised Silverbond Enterprises on an agreement for lease and a casino licence application.
Legal 500
Grant Gordon’s team at Fladgate LLP acts for clients such as Aspinals, Paddy Power and Mandalay Media on regulatory and corporate issues. The firm was appointed to advise GGVL on the property aspects of its provisional licence to run a new casino in Bath.
Legal 500
Grant Gordon leads Fladgate LLP’s betting and gaming practice and is noted for his extensive experience of cross-border corporate work and his knowledge of gaming technology.
Chambers Global
Clients highlight the team’s “knowledge of the relevant law, efficiency, practicality, common sense and reliability”. Stephen Lewis specialises in hotel and leisure sector work, which has previously seen him advise clients on hotel acquisitions and casino-related matters.
Chambers UK
Grant Gordon of Fladgate LLP is praised by sources for his knowledge of the online gaming world and his wide network of contacts in disparate jurisdictions. The firm’s clients include CT Networks, Mandalay (incorporating Costa Bingo and City Bingo), Midos, Mind Sports Partners and Quiz Show Bingo Gaming. The firm was retained as an adviser to CT Networks – a game development company headquartered on the Isle of Man – for the period up to and including its acquisition by Paddy Power.
Chambers UK
- Global Gaming Ventures – real estate aspects of their proposed acquisitions of new 2005 Act casinos in Bath and Leeds.
- Aspinalls – advising on the renewal of their lease of a casino in Mayfair, London.
- Offshore trust – acquisition of a portfolio of six regional Rank casinos for £29m. Three of the casinos are located in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) and three others are located in England (Liverpool, Stockport and Northampton).
- Aspers Casinos – acquisition of a 60,000 sq ft casino at Westfield Stratford and ongoing management work together with advice on the restructuring of the lease of their casino in Swansea.
- X–Leisure – advising on the letting of a new casino at Parrs Wood Manchester to Grosvenor Casinos.
- CT Networks – acquisition of this games development company headquartered in the Isle of Man by Paddy Power Plc.
- Mandalay Media Limited – software licence from Viaden Gaming Limited, a supplier of software to the remote gambling industry; merchant agreement and associated service level agreement with Smart Voucher Limited, trading as Ukash; software licence with Microgaming in terms of which Mandalay was licensed to use Microgaming’s interactive gaming system as well as the provision of progressive jackpot network services.
- Soccer Millionaire – three rounds of equity investment; shareholder arrangements, intellectual property issues, commercial and marketing contracts with distribution channels; applying for and obtaining requisite gaming licences from the Gambling Commission including follow up application following change of control.
- Costa Bingo – extension of their contract with Dragonfish, the independent B2B division of 888 Holdings Plc.
- Agora Gaming – acquisition, from administration, of one of the largest gaming slot businesses in the UK with 105 shops; advising on restructuring and licensing issues, including liaison with the Gambling Commission.
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