Playtech's long-standing legal dispute with rival Evolution has escalated following the public release of a report commissioned by Evolution. The report, known as the Spectrum Report, reportedly corroborates accusations that Evolution operated in banned markets, including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and the UAE.
The public release of the Spectrum Report intensifies Playtech's legal dispute with Evolution, potentially impacting Evolution's operations and legal standing, particularly in the US litigation, and highlighting significant compliance and regulatory risks within the online gambling industry.
Playtech's long-standing legal battle with its rival Evolution has intensified following the public release of a report commissioned by Evolution itself. The document, known as the Spectrum Report, has reportedly corroborated accusations made by Playtech that Evolution has been operating in banned markets.
Playtech stated that the report, now publicly available due to new proceedings in New Jersey, "specifically corroborate[s]" claims that Evolution's games were played in locations such as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Playtech highlighted that Evolution had consistently refused to make the report public, despite characterizing it as exonerating.
The gambling software firm further claimed that the Spectrum Report found Evolution had "not taken any proactive steps" to ensure customer-facing operators comply with contract terms. The report also indicated that the Swedish firm had not enforced contracts with clients regarding this activity. While the filing could not confirm or refute allegations of operating in sanctioned nations like Iran, Syria, and Sudan, it concluded that Evolution's compliance issues were "problematic" and placed the company in a "precarious situation with law enforcement officials."
The dispute between the two companies dates back to 2020 when Playtech hired an intelligence firm to investigate Evolution. A subsequent report, leaked in late 2021, alleged misconduct by Evolution. Evolution rejected these claims and commissioned the Spectrum Report to investigate the source of the allegations. In October 2025, Evolution disclosed in court that Playtech had paid £1.8 million for this probe into its competitor, a revelation that led to Playtech's shares shedding approximately 25% in the following trading session.