Evolution AB, the Swedish online casino solution provider, has requested permission from the New Jersey Superior Court to add Playtech as a defendant in its ongoing defamation lawsuit, which has been running since 2021. The firm claims there was a coordinated attempt to damage its business.
For the unaware, the dispute began when Evolution filed legal action against Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP and Black Cube over a report that accused the company of operating in restricted jurisdictions, including Iran, Syria, and Hong Kong. The report also alleged links to unlawful activity.
In an official press release, Evolution argued that Playtech played a central role in commissioning and promoting the report. According to the company, Black Cube, i.e. a private intelligence and consulting firm, was hired to conduct an investigation that ultimately produced material intended to influence regulators and public perception, particularly in North America, where both firms compete.
And so, the firm has urged the court to include Playtech, its public relations consultant, Juda Engelmayer, and others as defendants. Evolution has also named Playtech’s chief executive, Mor Weizer, in connection with the alleged sequence of events.
Case dates back to 2021
Court filings outline a timeline that dates back to early 2020s, when Playtech is alleged to have engaged Black Cube. In 2021, the firm conducted an investigation that reportedly involved recorded conversations and interviews, in some cases conducted under assumed identities. The results were later submitted to US regulators, including the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The allegations gained wider attention after media coverage, and the report’s contents were made public. However, in 2024, both regulators closed their inquiries without taking enforcement action against Evolution, stating that they had not found evidence to support the claims made in the report.
The case has developed gradually through a series of court orders. In 2025, the New Jersey Superior Court directed parties involved to identify the authors and backers of the report, leading to Black Cube being named as a defendant and, subsequently, to Playtech being identified as the commissioning party.
Playtech deny claims
Playtech has previously denied any wrongdoing and has indicated that it welcomes the opportunity to address the claims through the legal process. After the development, the company issued a new statement claiming that it stands by its decision to issue the report central to Evolution’s claims and maintains that its findings are valid.
According to them, Evolution continues to avoid scrutiny rather than address longstanding questions about its own conduct. Following news of the latest filing, Playtech’s shares fell by around three per cent.
Both Evolution and Playtech are major players in the global iGaming software market. Evolution is headquartered in Stockholm, and Playtech is in the Isle of Man. If accepted by the New Jersey Superior Court, Evolution’s request is likely to create major challenges and legal disputes for both of the companies.
Manila’s calling and it’s not whispering. From 01 to 03 June 2026, SiGMA Asia returns to the undisputed regional heavyweight. With 16,000 delegates, 3,040 operators, and 250+ speakers under one roof, this isn’t just an expo. It’s ignition!
