Evolution Accuses Playtech of Running Defamatory Campaign

Evolution Identifies Playtech as Black Cube’s Client

On 21 October 2025, Evolution AB publicly stated that it had identified Playtech Software Limited – a subsidiary of Playtech plc – as the company that hired Black Cube to produce a 2021 report that, according to Evolution, contained “highly inflammatory and knowingly false claims.” Evolution said the report was designed to harm its reputation and commercial standing “for anti-competitive reasons.”

The company claims Playtech paid Black Cube more than £1.8 million to carry out the operation. The law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP was allegedly paid around $33,700 to submit the report to U.S. regulators, including the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Evolution stated that the firm also prepared a cover letter repeating the report’s false accusations.

Alleged Use of Deceptive and Unethical Methods

Evolution said that during 2021, Black Cube conducted what it described as an “investigation” using false personas and disguises. The firm allegedly approached at least five current or former Evolution employees and board members under false pretenses, secretly recording the meetings.

According to Evolution, Black Cube then edited and selectively used fragments of those recordings to construct a misleading narrative. The resulting report accused Evolution of operating in sanctioned markets and supplying unlicensed operators, claims the company called “fabricated.”

Evolution added that Black Cube later paid $10,000 to HeraldPR, a New York-based public relations agency, to amplify the story. HeraldPR’s founder, Juda S. Engelmayer, has been described in U.S. media as a “go-to publicist” for controversial clients.

The report was sent to regulators in November 2021, and soon after, Bloomberg published an article outlining its allegations. Evolution said this media coverage spread widely, causing “multi-billion-dollar damage” to its reputation.

Legal and Regulatory Developments

In December 2021, Evolution filed a defamation and trade libel lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey against Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP and the then-unknown authors of the report. Over the following years, the court ordered disclosure of the parties behind the investigation.

In February 2024, the NJDGE and PGCB closed their investigations into Evolution. The NJDGE wrote that it was unable to substantiate the claims made in the Black Cube report and found no evidence showing that Evolution took illegal bets from prohibited jurisdictions. However, this did not constitute a formal exoneration, as the NJDGE noted limitations in its ability to verify activities in the markets referenced by the report.

In February 2025, the New Jersey Superior Court issued a procedural ruling related to disclosure matters in the ongoing case. While the court discussed the Black Cube report and noted concerns about its credibility, it explicitly stated that it was not making any dispositive finding regarding the merits of Evolution’s claims and that the case remained at an early procedural stage.

By April 2025, Black Cube had been identified as the report’s author. However, the law firm initially refused to reveal its client’s identity. Then, in September 2025, the court described the 2021 report as “objectively baseless” and said “no reasonable litigant could expect success on the merits.” The judge also called Black Cube’s August 2025 affidavit “self-serving.”

Evolution stated that even after multiple court orders, Black Cube continued to withhold key information, attempting to appeal to the New Jersey Appellate Division and later the New Jersey Supreme Court, both of which rejected the appeals.

Following these rulings, Evolution confirmed that Playtech had been identified as the company behind the report. Evolution said it will amend its complaint to include Playtech as a defendant, expecting litigation to continue into 2026.

Playtech Issues a Firm Rebuttal

In response, Playtech plc issued a statement denying all accusations. The company called Evolution’s claims “wholly untrue” and said they were “designed to distract from serious questions about Evolution’s business practices.”

Playtech confirmed that its subsidiary Playtech Software Limited (PTS) had hired an independent intelligence firm, but said the purpose was to verify “credible and repeated concerns” raised by operators, suppliers, and regulators. According to Playtech, the investigation was conducted lawfully and focused on whether Evolution was active in prohibited or sanctioned markets.

“The investigation was undertaken lawfully to better understand and verify concerns of significant regulatory and commercial importance,” Playtech stated. The company added that the resulting report “evidences that Evolution’s business practices undermine lawful and compliant gambling operations.”

Playtech said it “stands by the decision to commission the report” and “welcomes court examination of its findings,” expressing confidence that the proceedings will confirm the “credibility and legitimacy” of its investigation.

An Industry-Wide Repercussion

The dispute between Evolution and Playtech highlights ongoing tensions in the B2B iGaming market, where compliance, market access, and competition have become increasingly sensitive issues. Evolution, which operates studios across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, said the alleged smear campaign has harmed not only its business but also the broader credibility of regulated online gaming.

Playtech, meanwhile, maintains that its actions were taken in good faith and in the interest of transparency. Both companies continue to defend their positions in court as the case moves into its next phase.