Media tycoon Richard Desmond has suffered a decisive defeat in his High Court battle against the Gambling Commission over the award of the national lottery licence, leaving him facing a legal bill estimated at up to £70 million. Mrs Justice Smith dismissed his claim for up to £1.3 billion in damages on Friday, criticising his legal team's 'inexcusable' failings.
Desmond's companies, Northern & Shell and the New Lottery Company, had argued that the commission made 'manifest errors' in awarding the 10-year licence to Allwyn, a firm owned by Czech billionaire Karel Komárek. The judge rejected all claims, stating that the competition 'reached a lawful outcome'.
The former Daily Express owner vowed to appeal, with a spokesperson saying: 'They won. We lost. We appeal. It's not over.' However, the judgment noted that Desmond had rejected a £10 million settlement offer earlier in the process.
Desmond's legal costs were estimated at £55 million by May last year, though sources close to him dispute this figure. The Gambling Commission welcomed the ruling, saying it 'gives resounding support to good causes' by allowing Allwyn to continue investing in the lottery.
