Evolution AB has moved to widen its long-running legal fight in the United States by asking a New Jersey court for permission to add Playtech Plc and other parties as defendants. The request, filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, expands a dispute that began in 2021 and centers on allegations that damaging claims were circulated to harm Evolution’s business standing.
The company argues that a report released several years ago formed part of a coordinated effort to damage its reputation and place pressure on its regulatory approvals in the U.S. online gaming market. In the amended complaint, Evolution raises claims that include defamation, trade libel, fraud, and racketeering.
Evolution also alleges that important details tied to the matter were withheld from investors.
Court Filing Expands Long-Running Dispute
In a formal statement, Evolution said:
“It continues to be disappointing that a direct competitor would go to such extreme lengths to orchestrate a covert campaign designed to harm our business and avoid competing fairly in the marketplace. We are formally naming Playtech in our lawsuit because the facts are clear: Playtech hired Black Cube to create and publicize a defamatory report designed to harm Evolution, all while misleading the market and lying to investors about its role. For nearly four years, Playtech spent millions of dollars in legal fees to conceal its involvement in this smear campaign and avoid accountability.”
The legal action traces back to allegations first raised in 2021 concerning Evolution’s operations in certain jurisdictions. Evolution says those accusations were intended to prompt investigations by regulators and threaten licenses connected to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
According to the company, later regulatory reviews did not support the claims made in the report.
Origins of the Report Detailed in Filings
Court papers state that in December 2020, Playtech retained Black Cube to gather investigative material relating to Evolution. Evolution claims that during 2021 the investigation included recorded interviews carried out under false pretenses. It further alleges that material from those interviews was edited selectively to support conclusions that had already been decided.
The disputed report was then sent to regulators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in November 2021, according to the filing. Requests for official action accompanied the submissions. Media reports followed afterward, bringing broader public attention to the allegations.
Evolution launched litigation in December 2021 against parties connected to the creation and circulation of the report. Subsequent court orders later identified additional people and entities linked to the matter.
In 2025, legal developments required disclosure of Black Cube’s client. Evolution says that process identified Playtech.
Regulators Closed Reviews Without Action
The filing cites findings from regulators who ended their inquiries in February 2024 without taking enforcement steps.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement stated that it had found “no evidence … showing that Evolution took illegal bets from New Jersey, another state, or any other prohibited jurisdiction,” and “no evidence of inappropriate payments to Evolution by its clients or that Evolution provided devices for customers to illegally use their content.”
Later court rulings also commented on the report’s credibility. Documents referenced in the case state that the report was “objectively baseless” when viewed alongside the conclusions reached by regulators.
The dispute has drawn attention across the online gaming sector because both Evolution and Playtech are major suppliers, while North America remains an important growth market for the industry.
Evolution’s filing also describes payment arrangements linked to the investigation, including compensation tied to specific outcomes such as media exposure and regulatory inquiries. The company says those terms support its claim that a structured campaign was carried out.
Playtech has previously rejected accusations that it ran a smear campaign. The company said any investigation it commissioned was intended to examine concerns raised by industry participants and regulators. Playtech has also said no final court ruling has been issued on the original allegations contained in the report.
Source:
Evolution Seeks to Add Playtech to US Defamation Case, news.worldcasinodirectory.com, April 9, 2026
