Playtech’s legal spat with rival deepens after publication of secret report
Playtech’s long-running legal feud with rival Evolution has deepened after the gambling software firm claimed a previously-hidden report proved its competitor was “problematic” and made money in banned markets.
The London-listed firm has been in fierce spat with Evolution since 2020 when Playtech hired an intelligence firm to investigate its Swedish rival.
But new proceedings in New Jersey have forced a report commissioned by Evolution into the public domain. Despite being commissioned by Evolution, the document, known as the Spectrum Report, was able to “specifically corroborate” accusations that the firm’s games were played in banned locations including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
“For months, Evolution has publicly characterised the Spectrum Report as exonerating it. Yet, at the same time, Evolution consistently refused to make the report available to the public,” Playtech told markets this morning.
“Now that the Spectrum Report is publicly available, it is clear both why the Spectrum Report has become so important in the US litigation – and why Evolution fought so hard to keep it confidential.”
Playtech and Evolution in years-long legal row
The row between the firms first exploded in the second half of 2021 after Playtech-hired investigators submitted a report – that was subsequently leaked – alleging misconduct by Evolution.
Evolution rejected the claims and commissioned consultants at Spectrum Gaming Group to find out who was behind what it branded a “smear campaign,”
In October 2025, Evolution revealed in court that Playtech had paid £1.8m for the probe into its competitor. Playtech’s shares shed around 25 per cent in the trading session that followed.
But the unearthing of the Spectrum Report found Evolution had “not taken any proactive steps” to ensure customer-facing operators comply with contract terms.
The Swedish firm had not “taken any remedial action since the allegations of wrongdoing surfaced to block those particular sites or jurisdictions or to enforce their contracts with their clients with the respect to this activity,” the report said.
The filing was unable to “confirm or refute” allegations that Evolution was operating in sanctioned nations including Iran, Syria and Sudan, as previously accused. But it concluded the firm’s compliance issues were “problematic” and placed it in a “precarious situation with law enforcement officials”.
Evolution declined to comment on the court filings when they were published last night. Morning Wire has approached Evolution for comment.