Like two heavyweight Sumo wrestlers vying for the title of world iGaming software top dog, Playtech’s and Evolution’s sensational court case–involving alleged industrial surveillance, ex-Israeli Mossad intelligence agents and claims of defamation–continues to send shockwaves across the gambling industry.
Today, with some £200 million (around US$266m) wiped off its stock value, and stung by claims in court by Evolution that it had employed Black Cube, an Israeli intelligence firm, to “smear” its Swedish rivals, Playtech hit back.
Referring to the ongoing legal proceedings in the New Jersey Superior Court, FTSE 250, Isle-of-Man-headquartered Playtech told iGamingFuture:
Playtech Statement:
“The statement made today (October 21) by Evolution AB that [our] subsidiary, Playtech Software Limited (PTS), engaged in a smear campaign is wholly untrue and is designed to distract from serious questions about Evolution’s business practices.
“PTS commissioned an independent business intelligence firm to investigate credible and repeated concerns raised by operators, suppliers and regulators about Evolution’s activities in prohibited and sanctioned markets, and its supply to unlicensed operators in regulated markets.
“The investigation was undertaken lawfully to better understand and verify concerns of significant regulatory and commercial importance.
“The report published, as a result of the investigation, clearly evidences (sic) that Evolution’s business practices undermine lawful and compliant gambling operations.
“Such conduct damages trust in the credibility of the entire industry and also ultimately impacts government tax collection.
“Playtech stands by the decision to commission the report.
“Evolution continues to seek to avoid legitimate scrutiny rather than address longstanding questions about its conduct, including its decision to supply operators in illegal markets and to support unlicensed operators in regulated markets.
“Playtech welcomes court examination of the report and its findings. Playtech is confident that these proceedings will confirm the credibility and legitimacy of the investigation and the importance of the issues it seeks to address.”
Clarification:
iGamingFuture has also been contacted by a PR operative, Dan Mahoney, of Headland Consultants, presumably working on behalf of Playtech.
Mr Mahoney asked us to “clarify” certain issues in the controversial court case being played out in the gambling redoubt of New Jersey in the United States.
“The rulings cited by Evolution in its [court] response discuss the Black Cube report [into Evolution].
“They are not final rulings that the report is false or defamatory. They are merely preliminary rulings on whether [Playtech’s U.S. lawyers Calcagni & Kanefsky] C+K / Black Cube needed to reveal the identity of their clients.
“In regards to the February 2024 ruling, the NJDGE [New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement] merely stated that it was unable to substantiate the claims in the report. This is unsurprising as the NJDGE does not have personnel in the markets that the report refers to.
“As stated earlier today [October 21], Playtech welcomes court examination of the report and its findings.
“On background, Playtech believes that the discovery process, which will provide access to Evolution’s internal documents and require Evolution’s personnel to give sworn testimony under oath, will vindicate Playtech’s position.”
