Entain Initiates Legal Action Against Matched Betting Firm Oddsmonkey

Entain Starts Legal Proceedings Over Intellectual Property Issues

Entain has launched fresh legal action in the English High Court targeting the matched betting company Oddsmonkey. This case could emerge as a significant intellectual property dispute within the gambling industry. Filed on August 21st under the title Entain Operations Limited and others v Liquidity Trading Limited and others, the lawsuit currently lacks specific details on the allegations made by Entain.

Bookmakers’ Stance on Matched Betting Companies

This legal claim is identified as a civil Part 7 Claim, with Entain represented by the law firm Wiggin LLP, specialists in media and technology law. Entain’s subsidiaries including LC International Limited, Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Limited, and 365 Scores UK Limited are co-claimants in the case. The defendants include Liquidity Trading Limited, Liquidity PA Limited, and Samuel Stoffel.

Samuel Stoffel, a notable figure in the gambling sector, founded the matched betting platform Outplayed.com, which later merged with Oddsmonkey last year. Although Stoffel is no longer actively managing the company, matched betting itself is a legitimate method where users leverage bookmakers’ free bet offers to secure guaranteed returns. Despite its legality, bookmakers often view this practice unfavorably.

Oddsmonkey and Outplayed.com have established their operations by offering comprehensive guides and software that enable users to convert promotional bonuses into profits. This business model is often criticized by bookmakers who argue that it diminishes the value of their promotional offers. While some see Entain’s lawsuit as an effort to clamp down on matched betting, the precise claims against Oddsmonkey have not been disclosed.

Frequent Legal Battles Among Leading Gambling Operators

This latest legal action adds to Entain’s ongoing litigation activities. Recently, Entain experienced a setback in an intellectual property dispute at the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The company’s attempt to prevent Italian operator Sportbet S.R.L. from registering a logo similar to Entain’s Sportingbet brand was denied, with the EUIPO ruling that the words “sport” and “bet” are generic and cannot be exclusively claimed.

These events highlight the lengths to which gambling companies are willing to go to protect their brand identities in a fiercely competitive and legally intricate industry. Experts are also observing a separate dispute between gambling technology firms Aristocrat and Light & Wonder as another example of the increasing intensity surrounding intellectual property issues in this sector.

For Entain, this challenge to Oddsmonkey and its affiliates appears to be an effort to confront a business model seen as exploitative by many bookmakers. Additionally, it tests the boundaries of legal protections for trademarks and branding in gambling. As more information regarding Entain’s lawsuit emerges, industry observers will be attentive to how this legal battle develops.