According to the report, Entain communicated the exit privately to its investors and employees that the company had exited markets which currently have no regulatory oversight and the prospect of a legal regulated online gambling market remains unlikely. This includes markets such as the Vatican City, Antarctica (?!!!), Russia, and Argentina among others.
The company noted in the internal communication:
Entain Leaves 140 Markets Including Vatican City & Antarctica as Part of "Corporate Responsibility Commitment" Entain Leaves 140 Markets Including Vatican City & Antarctica as Part of "Corporate Responsibility Commitment"The move comes following an HMRC investigation into the company’s Turkish subsidiary that looked into allegations of bribery. That investigation led to a deferred settlement of £600 million and an assurance that the company would remove its brands from unregulated markets.
In relation to that case, Non-Executive Chair Barry Gibson noted:
Entain Leaves 140 Markets Including Vatican City & Antarctica as Part of "Corporate Responsibility Commitment"“We remain focused on advancing our operations exclusively within regulated markets and are acknowledged as a leading, responsible entity with unparalleled corporate governance across our business.”