Ex-Entain General Counsel Simon Zinger Launches Two Advisory Firms

Simon Zinger, formerly Group General Counsel and Chief Customer Care Officer at Entain, has become the latest UK gambling industry executive to move into consultancy, launching Calibri Law and Bluestar Partners.

After stepping into the position of Group General Counsel for Entain in February 2021, Zinger’s job title was expanded to Group General Counsel and Chief Customer Care Officer in August 2025. Zinger left Entain this month.

During his time at Entain, the Ladbrokes and Coral owner accelerated its strategy to move away from grey markets. By the end of 2023, Entain had exited 140 markets to comply with its corporate responsibilities. In November 2023, Entain agreed to pay a £615 million penalty to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation into historical bribery at its former Turkish online gambling business.

What the new businesses do

After leaving Entain, Zinger has decided to stay in the legal sector. Calibri Law is described as a legal advisory firm that will balance legal and compliance needs, operational challenges and business strategy.

Zinger did not mention whether Calibri Law will focus on the gambling industry specifically, but he said the legal advice provided by Calibri will cover the gambling, gaming, media, marketing services and technology industries.

Meanwhile, Bluestar Partners will provide strategic advice where regulation, risk and opportunity intersect. Its remit will cover more than legal practice, encompassing regulatory support, government relations, crisis management, international business expansion, customer protection and sports integrity.

Zinger posted on LinkedIn:

“After many years working inside globally regulated businesses, I want to now offer two practices grounded in practical judgment, commercial understanding and the realities of operating under regulatory and reputational pressures.

“I am grateful to the many colleagues, teams, connections, regulators and advisers I have worked with and learned from over the years. Those experiences have shaped how I think about legal advice, regulation, risk, customer care and commercial judgment. This is the beginning of a new chapter, and I look forward to working with clients, colleagues, friends and partners in the months ahead.”

Black market focus

Zinger was also with Entain at a time where the company became vocal about the idea of banning unlicensed operators from sponsoring sports teams and events within the UK.

In September, the UK government closed a consultation on the prospect of a ban, which would come into effect on a fixed date in August 2027.

Following the closure of the consultation, Entain CEO Stella David said:

“Entain is also calling for the ban to cover online and digital advertising. Evidence cited in the government’s own consultation shows that 22% of consumers who use unlicensed operators first encountered them through social media or social media advertising, compared with 13% through sponsorship.”

A common theme

Zinger’s move into consultancy echoes that of former Gambling Commission executives Andrew Rhodes and Tim Miller. Rhodes, who was Chief Executive of the British regulator from June 2021 to May 2026, joined gambling advisory firm Hawkbridge as a Principal Consultant in June, with the Commission stating he will be bound by confidentiality regulations to try and prevent a potential conflict of interest.

Separately, Miller, formerly an Executive Director at the Commission, launched GamReg Consulting in September, in an attempt to help provide evidence-based approaches to gambling regulation.

Miller stepped down from his role at the Commission earlier last month, bringing an end to a 10-year spell with the regulator.