Evolution Initiates Legal Action Against Playtech in Escalating Dispute

(AsiaGameHub) –   Evolution has moved forward with its ongoing U.S. defamation lawsuit, effectively confirming that a legal showdown with Playtech is on the horizon for later this year. 

The firm has included Playtech as a defendant in the case—joining existing defendants Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, Black Cube, Juda Engelmayer, and several others. 

Evolution claims Playtech organized a defamatory smear campaign targeting it, with the aim of breaking into the North American market and removing a key competitor. 

The legal filing further accuses Playtech of ‘trade libel, fraud and racketeering, as well as concealing details of its actions from shareholders despite Playtech Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer‘s active involvement in creating and spreading the defamatory report’. 

iGaming Expert has contacted Playtech to get its take on being added to Evolution’s ongoing U.S. defamation lawsuit. 

Last October, Evolution identified Playtech subsidiary Playtech Software Limited as the party that hired Black Cube to probe the provider’s operations in banned or sanctioned markets, plus its supply of services to unlicensed operators in regulated regions. 

Back then, Playtech stated that the claim of a smear campaign was “completely false and intended to divert attention from major concerns about Evolution’s business practices”, adding that it reaffirmed its choice to commission the report and expressed openness to a court review. 

Evolution adds Playtech to lawsuit

In its most recent statement, Evolution noted: “We are officially including Playtech in our lawsuit because the facts are undeniable: Playtech engaged Black Cube to produce and promote a defamatory report aimed at damaging Evolution—all while misleading the market and lying to investors about its involvement. 

“Over almost four years, Playtech has spent millions in legal costs to hide its role in this smear campaign and evade responsibility.” 

Evolution also cited rulings from two U.S. state gaming regulators, which found that the information from the investigation lacked ‘evidentiary support’, adding that the report’s spread by Engelmayer and other defendants kept inflicting major reputational and financial damage on Evolution. 

“Any justification Playtech gives for commissioning the defamatory report is contradicted by the £1.5m success fee it promised Black Cube for getting the results it wanted, plus the extreme steps Playtech took to hide its identity,” Evolution continued. 

“Playtech and Black Cube keep making false claims of supposed misconduct during these legal proceedings, and we anticipate this will continue. It’s worth noting that Playtech currently runs or has run operations in some of the exact markets it accuses Evolution of operating in illegally. 

“Playtech was even penalized in 2025 for compliance failures linked to some of its Swedish operations. These accusations are nothing more than Playtech’s ongoing efforts to undercut competition by damaging Evolution’s business and reputation. 

“We have full confidence in our strict compliance policies and practices, and the facts of this case are on our side. We’re eager to hold Playtech, Black Cube, and all their associates responsible for the harm they’ve inflicted.” 

Playtech disputes Evolution claims

Playtech recently addressed the legal conflict with Evolution in its FY2025 financial report, released at the end of March. It stood by its decision to hire Black Cube to examine Evolution’s business practices and denied any claims of illegal behavior. 

In the report’s notes section, Playtech stated: “On 21 October 2025, Evolution AB publicly named Playtech Software Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, as the entity that commissioned a 2021 report by Black Cube—one that has been referenced in ongoing U.S. proceedings but does not involve any Group entity. 

“Additionally, on the same day, Evolution AB announced it would revise its complaint to include Playtech Software Ltd as a defendant. However, as of the date these financial statements were approved, Evolution had not requested court permission to add any Group entity to the New Jersey proceedings, and no claim has been served on Playtech Plc, Playtech Software Limited, or any other Group entity. 

“The Group rejects any claims of illegal activity. Given the case’s early stage and the absence of any served claim (including no indication of the potential amount), this is classified solely as a contingent liability.” 

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