British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April in a shock decision which jeopardises gaming's biggest-ever deal, drawing a furious response from the two groups who questioned whether the country remained open to tech firms.
"If regulators have concerns we want to address them. If there are problems, we want to solve them. If the UK wants to impose regulatory requirements that go beyond those in the EU, we want to find ways to fulfil them." Smith criticised Britain after the CMA veto, saying it would shake confidence in the UK as a destination for tech.