Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes, has initiated legal proceedings against the operators of OddsMonkey and Outplayed.com, alleging unauthorized use of its intellectual property. The lawsuit, filed in the English High Court on August 21, 2025, accuses the matched betting platforms of trademark infringement and passing off.
Matched betting services like OddsMonkey and Outplayed.com provide users with strategies to profit from bookmakers’ promotional offers. Entain contends that these platforms have utilized its trademarks without permission, potentially misleading consumers and harming its brand reputation.
The defendants, Liquidity Trading Limited and Liquidity PA Limited, are associated with Samuel Stoffel, a prominent figure in the matched betting industry and founder of Outplayed.com. In December 2024, Outplayed.com merged with OddsMonkey, consolidating their services. While Stoffel remains on the board of Liquidity PA Limited, he is not currently involved in day-to-day management.
This legal action underscores the growing tension between traditional gambling operators and matched betting platforms. While matched betting is legal, it challenges the conventional business models of bookmakers and raises questions about the boundaries of intellectual property rights in the digital age.
Entain’s recent legal challenges extend beyond this case. In June 2025, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) dismissed Entain’s opposition to Italian operator Sportbet S.R.L.’s trademark application. The EUIPO ruled that the terms “sport” and “bet” are generic within the gambling industry, lacking the distinctiveness required for exclusive rights. This decision allows Sportbet to proceed with its branding within the European Union.
Additionally, in July 2025, the Maltese Civil Court rejected Entain’s attempt to reinstate a ban on SB Entertainment Limited, which operates Sportingwin. The court highlighted procedural flaws in Entain’s filing and emphasized the importance of adhering to Malta’s intellectual property regulations.
These developments reflect the complex landscape of intellectual property disputes in the gambling sector, as companies navigate the challenges posed by emerging technologies and evolving market dynamics.