Austrian Criminal Complaint Targets Evoke CEO as Grey Market Disputes Escalate
Evoke plc chief executive Per Widerström has been named in a private criminal complaint filed in Austria, according to reporting by NEXT.io. The action, brought by an Austrian physician seeking to recover historic gambling losses, marks a significant escalation in Europe’s widening legal battle over grey market operations. The complaint also names the operator’s former international managing director and several evoke-owned companies.
Complaint Filed in Vienna Targets Top Evoke Executives
According to NEXT.io, the complaint was submitted to the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office on 13 November. A statement of facts attached to the filing alleges that evoke organised gambling illegally in breach of Austrian law. The document calls on prosecutors to investigate the company and the executives involved.
The physician behind the complaint previously secured a court judgement worth €564,695 several years ago. The operator, then trading as 888, did not appeal. With accumulated interest, the physician’s lawyers now argue the sum owed exceeds €700,000. When the legal team attempted to enforce the judgement in Malta, evoke successfully invoked Bill 55 to block the action.
In parallel, the physician has filed bankruptcy proceedings in Malta against evoke. NEXT.io reports that the case is due to be heard in early 2026 after lawyers were unable to locate funds belonging to the company on the island.
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Grey Market Tensions Rise as Operators Face Historic Claims
Lawyers across Europe have recently succeeded in forcing online gambling operators to repay historic losses in grey markets. These actions have gained traction in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Malta introduced Bill 55 to shield MGA-licensed B2C operators from such claims, though the measure is now under scrutiny in several European courts.
While Germany and the Netherlands have established competitive licensing systems, Austria continues to rely on a monopoly model operated by Casinos Austria. This structure has created significant legal friction with international operators that rely on EU free-movement-of-services arguments to justify their presence.
NEXT.io obtained a cross-examination document in which evoke’s former international managing director admitted the company knew it operated in breach of Austria’s monopoly. The executive claimed the MGA licence offered protection and said the decision not to pay players after local court rulings came from evoke’s executive committee.
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Evoke Maintains Opposition to Local Court Rulings
Some operators have begun complying with unfavourable rulings in grey markets. Evoke has taken the opposite route, maintaining its legal resistance. According to its 2024 annual report, the company has set aside £116m for “ongoing legal and regulatory matters principally in Austria and Germany.” Sources close to the case told NEXT.io that the team behind the criminal complaint is confident prosecutors will investigate.
If authorities move forward, the development could represent a major escalation in Europe’s ongoing disputes over grey market activity. The outcome may also influence the future of Bill 55, which faces several challenges at EU level and could be weakened or removed. Evoke declined to comment when contacted by NEXT.io.