The feud between Evolution and Playtech continues as the latter has clarified it stands by its decision to investigate Evolution in its 2020 report on the supplier.
This clarification comes after Evolution requested that the Superior Court of New Jersey amend its ongoing defamation lawsuit to add Playtech as a defendant in the case. Playtech has now responded by standing by its original decision to commission the report around which this lawsuit is centered.
Filed originally over four years ago, Evolution alleges that Playtech’s 2020 report – constructed in collaboration with investigative firm Black Cube – was an active act of defamation that sought to hinder its North American market expansion and inflict reputational damage. Indeed, the investigation accuses Evolution of regulatory violations, with recent court findings highlighting that efforts were also taken to conceal the authorship of the report.
State regulators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania subsequently concluded their investigations into Evolution in 2024, without stripping the supplier of its licenses in either jurisdiction. The supplier is alleging not only defamation – but also trade libel, feud and racketeering against Playtech.
Nevertheless, Playtech is holding firm – now having underlined that it stands by its decision to authorize and publish the report, further reaffirming the legitimacy of its findings via a statement released through an initially faulty link.
Explaining as part of the statement, the company said: “Playtech welcomes court and regulatory examination of the report and its findings and, importantly, the opportunity to be involved in the discovery process including to question Evolution's employees, executives and officers in court.
“The Company is very confident based on evidence it has, including recent additional evidence, that these proceedings will confirm the credibility and legitimacy of the report and the importance of the issues it seeks to address.”
Conclusively, Playtech emphasized its intentions to “vigorously” defend itself against Evolution’s legal action, indicating that this ongoing legal battle – despite being four years old – could yet go on for some time.
This suit was originally filed in 2021
