iGaming Scandal: Playtech May Have Spent $2.4 Million on a Reputation Attack Against Evolution

^{Pictured: Mor Weizer (CEO of Playtech) and Martin Carlesund (CEO of Evolution)}

Industry outlet NEXT.io has reported that the anonymous 2021 “prohibited markets” report targeting Evolution* — prepared by Israeli intelligence firm Black Cube — may have been commissioned by Playtech**.

The report alleged that Evolution’s products were accessible to players in countries where gambling is prohibited. It was sent to U.S. regulators and later leaked to the press. Evolution denied the allegations, calling them false, and filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court to identify the party behind the campaign.

The case dragged on for several years and reached the state’s Supreme Court. In October, the court allowed the release of partial information, which revealed that Playtech and the private intelligence agency Black Cube it had hired were involved in creating the report. According to NEXT.io, Playtech paid £1.8 million ($2.4 million) for the production and distribution of the document.

Journalists also claim that senior Playtech executives — including CEO Mor Weizer — may have been involved in the project.

Law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, which received $33,700, and PR agency HeraldPR, which was paid $10,000, were reportedly part of the effort.

According to NEXT.io, Black Cube operatives used fake identities and shell companies, held meetings under false pretenses, and secretly recorded conversations. Some quotes were allegedly taken out of context.

Later, two U.S. regulators stated that the report contained no evidence, and a court ruled it unreliable. Despite this, the publication caused serious reputational damage to Evolution, which the company estimates in the billions of dollars.

Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund said the competitor’s actions “undermine trust in fair competition and business ethics.” The company now intends to name Playtech as a defendant in its defamation lawsuit.

Earlier, Gambling Park reported on an unusual incident where Evolution casino dealers were bitten by bedbugs during a live stream.

* Playtech — a British-Israeli iGaming developer.
** Evolution — a Swedish provider of live dealer games and online casino solutions.