Playtech says new report backs Black Cube investigation into Evolution

9th Sep 2026 09:22

(Sharecast News) - Playtech said on Wednesday that a newly released report commissioned by rival Evolution AB supported key findings from a controversial investigation it commissioned into the Swedish gaming group five years ago.

The London-listed gambling technology provider said the Spectrum Gaming Group report, commissioned by Evolution in response to an investigation by private intelligence firm Black Cube, has now been made public as part of ongoing litigation in the US.

Playtech hired Black Cube in 2021 to investigate whether Evolution's online casino games were being made available in certain prohibited markets. The resulting allegations subsequently became the subject of regulatory scrutiny and a defamation dispute, with Evolution maintaining that the claims were false.

According to Playtech, the newly disclosed Spectrum report "specifically corroborate[d]" several of Black Cube's findings, including concerns over the availability of Evolution games in certain prohibited jurisdictions and weaknesses in the monitoring of customers using its products.

Spectrum found that Evolution did not take proactive steps to ensure customer-facing operators were complying with contractual terms, according to Playtech.

However, Playtech said Spectrum could not confirm or refute some of Black Cube's allegations because Evolution did not provide information requested by the consultancy, including data on gaming sessions and revenues in Iran, Syria and Sudan.

Playtech said Evolution had previously characterised the Spectrum report as exonerating it while seeking to keep the document confidential.

The company said it welcomed the report's public release and continued to stand by its decision to commission Black Cube, adding that it "remains very confident that the court proceedings will confirm the credibility and legitimacy" of the original investigation and the concerns it raised.

Playtech shares were down 1.8% at 397p by 0949 BST.

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