Mansion Group Secures Victory in Another High-Profile Court Case in Gibraltar

While Mansion Group ceased operations in 2023, its legal battles with former CEO Karel Mañasco remain in the spotlight.

In a noteworthy legal development, the Gibraltar Supreme Court ruled in favor of the now-defunct Mansion Group, ordering former CEO Karel Mañasco to pay more than €2.5 million ($2.76 million) and £127,000 ($166,200). The case involved allegations that Mañasco had misappropriated company funds through payments to third-party vendors that did not provide any services in return.

A Troubled Past for the Operator

Mansion Group officially closed its doors in October 2023, shutting down its B2C brands, casino.com, and MansionCasino.com. Regulatory challenges forced the company to withdraw from key markets, including the UK and Ontario, significantly reducing its market share. The legal dispute with Mañasco seemed to be the final blow for the struggling operator.

This ruling marks the second major legal defeat for Mañasco in his ongoing conflict with Mansion Group. The case previously led to a €5 million worldwide asset freeze order against him. The dispute began in early 2024 when Mañasco accused Mansion Group of operating without proper licenses, breaching regulations, and failing to pay taxes in multiple countries.

Despite Mañasco’s claims, the court has consistently sided with Mansion Group. In August, the court rejected Mañasco’s accusations due to a lack of concrete evidence. It denied his attempts to amend his defense and dismissed his counterclaims.

The Legal Drama Continues

In this latest chapter of the dispute, the court found that Mañasco had approved payments totaling €2.5 million to White Wizard Media Limited, a company that, according to Mansion Group, did not provide any services in return. Additionally, there was a claim regarding a £127,000 payment to KM Accountants for consultancy services invoiced by Aventador Media Limited.

Mañasco was ordered to provide a satisfactory explanation for these payments by May 15. Failure to do so would result in the striking out of his defense and counterclaim. Although Mañasco did submit a witness statement, his responses were deemed inconsistent and insufficient. Consequently, Mansion Group won the judgment for the entire claimed amount.

Mañasco has announced his intention to appeal the ruling, signaling that this protracted legal battle is far from over. Nevertheless, this latest verdict marks another win for Mansion Group in its quest to reclaim what it describes as misappropriated funds. The high-profile nature of the allegations and the substantial sums involved ensure this case will continue to attract attention.