In a big growth revealed on October 21, 2025, Evolution AB, a world chief in on-line on line casino recreation growth, disclosed that Playtech Software program Restricted, a subsidiary of Playtech Plc, was behind the creation and dissemination of a defamatory report designed to wreck Evolution’s fame. The report, fabricated by the controversial investigation agency Black Dice, contained false claims and was meant to hurt Evolution’s enterprise in an anti-competitive method.
The involvement of Playtech on this scheme was saved beneath wraps for years, however Evolution’s authorized battle has lastly introduced the reality to gentle. The corporate revealed that Playtech had paid Black Dice over £1.8 million to manufacture and flow into the damaging report. Regardless of being dismissed by regulators in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and located to be untruthful by the New Jersey Superior Court docket, the report precipitated substantial reputational harm to Evolution and resulted in multi-billion-dollar losses.
Manipulative Techniques by Black Dice and Authorized Repercussions
Black Dice, notorious for its use of deceitful and unethical strategies, engaged in covert operations to create the defamatory report. As a part of their investigation, the agency carried out secret interviews with present and former Evolution staff, utilizing false identities and disguises. These interviews had been recorded with out consent and selectively edited to construct a false narrative. The total scope of Black Dice’s ways raised severe moral considerations, together with the manipulation of proof to serve the specified final result.
Evolution was fast to disavow the allegations, with firm officers stating that the report misrepresented their feedback and that they had been unaware of any unlawful actions described. Evolution then pursued authorized motion, submitting a lawsuit in 2021 in opposition to Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, the legislation agency that facilitated the distribution of the defamatory report. Playtech, which had been making an attempt to maintain its involvement a secret, was named within the lawsuit as soon as its position grew to become clear.
Chronology of Key Occasions and the Authorized Battle
In December 2020, Playtech employed Black Dice to conduct an “investigation” into Evolution, with the objective of manufacturing a false report that will harm the corporate’s fame. All through 2021, Black Dice carried out a collection of misleading interviews with key people at Evolution, in the end compiling edited, deceptive video and audio recordings. The fabricated report was submitted to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) and the Pennsylvania Gaming Management Board (PGCB) in November 2021 by Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, a legislation agency paid to supervise the submission.
As soon as the report was leaked to Bloomberg and different media retailers, it sparked a collection of damaging articles, together with one by Bloomberg on November 16, 2021, which primarily based its reporting on the false allegations inside the report. Regardless of a public outcry, Evolution maintained its innocence, and regulators started reviewing the claims made in opposition to the corporate.
The courtroom case, which Evolution filed in December 2021, took a number of years to unfold. The New Jersey Superior Court docket ultimately dismissed the defamatory claims, stating that the report lacked any factual foundation. In February 2024, state regulators cleared Evolution of any wrongdoing, with the NJDGE stating they’d discovered “no proof” that Evolution engaged in unlawful actions.
Revelation of Playtech’s Involvement and Continued Authorized Motion
It was not till February 2025 that the New Jersey Superior Court docket ordered the legislation agency to reveal the id of the consumer behind the defamatory marketing campaign. That call in the end revealed Playtech because the occasion answerable for commissioning the dangerous report. Regardless of this, Black Dice continues to withstand efforts to totally adjust to the courtroom’s discovery orders, with the agency making an attempt to protect its actions from scrutiny.
With Playtech’s involvement now confirmed, Evolution intends to amend its lawsuit, including the corporate to the record of defendants. Authorized proceedings are anticipated to proceed into 2026, with Evolution decided to carry each Playtech and Black Dice accountable for the harm precipitated.
Subsequent Steps
Evolution has amended its grievance to incorporate Playtech as a defendant. The litigation is predicted to proceed into 2026, as the corporate seeks accountability for the harm brought on by the defamatory report.
Supply:
Playtech Unmasked as Black Dice Shopper Behind Defamatory Smear Marketing campaign Focusing on Evolution AB, information.cision.com, October 21, 2025
