Richard Desmond loses £1.3bn damages battle over national lottery licence

Firms owned by media tycoon launched action against Gambling Commission in 2022 after Allwyn won franchise

The media tycoon Richard Desmond has lost his claim for up to £1.3bn in damages from the Gambling Commission, ending a bitter dispute over the regulator’s decision not to award him the 10-year licence to run the national lottery.

Companies owned by the former proprietor of the Daily Express and Channel 5 launched action against the regulator in 2022, starting a tortuous legal process in which Desmond’s costs were estimated to have reached £55m by May last year.