Playtech has renewed its defense of the Black Cube investigation into Evolution after the publication of a report prepared by Spectrum Gaming Group, arguing that the document supports several of the concerns raised during the long-running dispute between the companies.
The report, cited by London South East, emerged as part of ongoing litigation in the United States involving Evolution and Black Cube. According to Playtech, the findings contained in the Spectrum document reinforce elements of the private intelligence firm’s earlier investigation, which Playtech commissioned to examine whether Evolution’s online casino products were accessible in jurisdictions where they were not permitted.
The disagreement traces back to 2021, when Evolution launched legal action against Black Cube following an investigation that had been carried out on Playtech’s behalf. Evolution has consistently rejected the allegations and has previously described the investigation as a smear campaign. The supplier has maintained that the claims against it were inaccurate and has pursued legal remedies to challenge them.
Playtech, however, said the newly available Spectrum report strengthens the credibility of the original investigation and the issues it highlighted.
Spectrum Report Draws Attention to Compliance Concerns
In its response to the report’s release, Playtech said Spectrum identified concerns relating to the presence of Evolution’s products in certain prohibited markets, the regulatory consequences linked to those activities, and shortcomings in the monitoring of customer-facing operators.
According to Playtech, Spectrum found that Evolution “does not take any proactive steps” to ensure operators using its products comply with contractual obligations. Playtech also cited passages in the report that described compliance shortcomings as “significant,” “problematic,” and placing Evolution “in a precarious situation with law enforcement officials.”
Playtech stated that the report was able to “specifically corroborate” several findings previously presented by Black Cube. Among the areas highlighted were questions surrounding the availability of Evolution games in restricted locations and the company’s oversight of customers using its products.
The gambling technology supplier further argued that Evolution had publicly portrayed the Spectrum report as clearing the company of wrongdoing while seeking to keep the document confidential. Evolution had opposed the report’s release, citing concerns over commercially sensitive and proprietary information.
The now-public document was commissioned by Evolution itself as part of its effort to challenge Black Cube’s allegations.
Information Requests and Market Access Claims
While Playtech said Spectrum supported some of Black Cube’s conclusions, it also noted that the consultancy was unable “to confirm or refute” several allegations because requested information was not provided.
According to Playtech, the missing material included data that would have enabled Spectrum to determine whether gaming sessions had taken place in Iran, Syria and Sudan, as well as revenue information linked to those jurisdictions.
The report reportedly concluded that Evolution had not engaged in illegal conduct and rejected allegations involving cash payments and the use of Evolution products in sanctioned countries. Even so, Playtech argued that the absence of certain information prevented Spectrum from fully examining some of the claims made during the investigation.
Playtech also pointed to findings indicating that Evolution games were accessible and generating revenue in a number of locations described as prohibited markets. The jurisdictions identified included Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Additional issues raised in the report concerned virtual currency activity and business conducted in grey markets. Playtech said the document highlighted situations where wagers involving virtual currencies were accepted without enhanced due diligence measures being triggered. The report also noted that revenue continued to be generated from operators in grey-market jurisdictions without contractual restrictions or corrective actions being enforced following earlier allegations.
Regulatory Developments Add Further Pressure
The release of the Spectrum report comes amid wider regulatory scrutiny of Evolution.
In July, the UK Gambling Commission reached a £4.75 million regulatory settlement with the supplier after determining that its games had been accessible through a small number of unlicensed operators in the UK market.
Earlier that month, the regulator reported that its investigation had identified shortcomings in anti-money laundering procedures and customer due diligence controls. The Commission considered suspending Evolution’s license before the company implemented ring-fencing measures across Europe designed to restrict access to its games in grey-market territories.
Meanwhile, the legal dispute remains active. Evolution’s lawsuit against Black Cube continues, and the company sought earlier this year to add Playtech as a defendant in the proceedings.
Playtech said it continues to support its decision to engage Black Cube and remains confident that the court process will ultimately validate both the investigation and the concerns it brought forward regarding Evolution’s operations.