Allwyn CEO defends new UK chief Phil Walker amid MP scrutiny

LONDON – Allwyn’s Group CEO, Robert Chvátal, has publicly defended the appointment of Phil Walker as the new chief executive of its UK business, following criticism from Members of Parliament regarding Walker’s regulatory record.

Speaking after the company's Q2 earnings update, Chvátal expressed his support for the incoming leader, who is set to replace the departing Andria Vidler. The appointment has drawn scrutiny due to Walker's past role at William Hill.

He is the right leader to take the business through the next phase of its journey.

MP concerns over past sanction

MPs Dawn Butler and Sir Iain Duncan Smith recently co-authored a letter to the Gambling Commission to voice their concerns over Walker's hiring. Their correspondence referenced a sanction issued to Walker concerning what they described as "widespread and alarming" anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing failures at William Hill.

In May 2024, the Commission issued Walker with a formal warning. The regulator found that he had not taken all reasonable measures to ensure several William Hill businesses adhered to their licence conditions.

Mixed UK results in Q2

Chvátal's remarks came as Allwyn reported mixed financial results for its UK division, which now operates The National Lottery. For the second quarter, net revenue in the UK increased by 2% to €236 million.

Adjusted EBITDA for the UK operation experienced a substantial rise, growing from €6 million in the prior year period to €23 million. Allwyn attributed this enhanced profitability to the recent completion of the National Lottery's technology transformation programme.

Despite the improved quarterly profitability, the company noted that its UK revenue for the 2026 financial year is now projected to fall short of its original forecasts.

Elsewhere in the group's portfolio, Allwyn highlighted the performance of Betano, the global betting brand in which it holds a 36.75% stake. Betano achieved revenue growth of 26% on a constant currency basis during Q2. Allwyn CFO Ken Morton stated that this strong result was reflective of the brand's leading market position in Brazil.