9th Apr 2026 12:59
(Alliance News) - Playtech PLC on Thursday said defamation claims against it by Evolution AB were "baseless and without merit", after the latter announced its intention to include Playtech in an ongoing lawsuit.
Both firms specialise in online gambling software, with Evolution based in Stockholm and FTSE-250 listed Playtech based in Douglas, Isle of Man.
Evolution on Thursday said it has requested permission from the Superior Court of New Jersey to add Playtech as a defendant in a defamation suit against New York-based law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP and intelligence agency Black Cube, which Evolution says Playtech hired "to create and publicise a defamatory report designed to harm Evolution."
Alongside Playtech, Evolution is looking to add other defendants such as Juda Engelmayer, a public relations consultant whose clients include Harvey Weinstein.
Evolution alleges that the defendants played a role in "commissioning and disseminating highly inflammatory and defamatory reports about Evolution's business practices in an effort to harm its reputation".
More plainly, it is accusing Playtech of carrying out a "smear campaign against Evolution in an effort to eliminate competition in the North American marketplace".
"Today's filing also accuses Playtech of trade libel, fraud and racketeering, as well as withholding information about its conduct from shareholders despite Playtech CEO Mor Weizer's active participation in the preparation and dissemination of the defamatory report," Evolution added on Thursday.
"Playtech and Black Cube's agreement outlined plans... to get regulators to open an investigation and ultimately revoke Evolution's gaming license. Black Cube's report, which was leaked to the media by Juda Engelmayer and his firm, HeraldPR, in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars, was determined by two state gaming regulators in the US to lack evidentiary support," Evolution argued.
According to Evolution, Playtech promised Black Cube GBP1.5 million in success fees.
For its part, Playtech dismissed Evolution's claims as "baseless and without merit".
"Playtech stands by both the decision to commission the report at the centre of Evolution's claims, and the validity of its findings," the company said. "Evolution continues to seek to avoid legitimate scrutiny rather than addressing longstanding questions about its own conduct, including its decision to supply operators in both illegal and sanctioned markets and to support unlicensed operators in regulated markets."
Evolution, however, stated that "Playtech currently operates or has operated in some of the very markets it accuses Evolution of operating in illegally".
Playtech nonetheless said it welcomes "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."
Evolution has reaffirmed its confidence "in our rigorous compliance policies and practices, and that the facts in this case are on our side."
Playtech shares traded 0.3% lower at 391.40 pence early on Thursday afternoon in London.
By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter
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