Evolution names rival Playtech as source of 2021 smear campaign report

Online casino provider Evolution AB on Tuesday said it has identified rival Playtech Plc as the company that commissioned a damaging 2021 report against it.

According to Evolution, Playtech hired investigation firm Black Cube for over 1.8 million British Pounds to create and disseminate a report with knowingly false claims intended to harm Evolution's business.

"It is deeply disturbing to learn that one of our competitors has gone to such extraordinary lengths to damage our business and reputation," Evolution said in a statement, adding that the report's dissemination resulted in multi-billion dollar damage.

The allegations were made public in November 2021 after the report was submitted to U.S. gaming regulators.

In February 2024, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement closed its investigation into the matter, finding no evidence of wrongdoing by Evolution.

The identity of Playtech was revealed through discovery in an ongoing lawsuit filed by Evolution, the company said.

A New Jersey Superior Court previously found the report to be "untruthful" and "objectively baseless," according to the filing.

Evolution said it will now amend its complaint to include Playtech as a defendant in the lawsuit.