Playtech labels Evolution lawsuit as ‘baseless and without merit’

(AsiaGameHub) –   Playtech has moved quickly to respond to recent developments in its ongoing legal dispute with Evolution. 

The company said it will ‘defend itself vigorously’ against Evolution’s U.S. defamation lawsuit— which accuses Playtech of orchestrating a defamatory smear campaign against the company— and described the allegation as ‘baseless and without merit’.

Playtech’s statement was issued after Evolution named the supplier as a defendant alongside Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP and Black Cube, and also added Juda Engelmayer and other individuals to the list of defendants.

Playtech to ‘defend itself vigorously’ against Evolution

Playtech has been anticipating this since October of last year, when Evolution held the supplier responsible for commissioning Black Cube to investigate Evolution’s operations in prohibited and sanctioned markets, as well as its supply to unlicensed operators in regulated markets.

Playtech stated: “As previously announced, Playtech stands by both the decision to commission the report at the centre of Evolution’s claims, and the validity of its findings. 

“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.

“Playtech welcomes court and regulatory examination of the report and its findings and, importantly, 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 and the importance of the issues it seeks to address.

“Playtech will defend itself vigorously against Evolution’s claims and will continue to act in the best interests of industry operators, suppliers and regulators as well as its shareholders.”

Evolution Names Playtech as a Defendant

Earlier today, Evolution issued a statement claiming Playtech orchestrated a defamatory smear campaign against it to enter the North American market and eliminate competitors.

The legal filing also accuses Playtech of ‘trade libel, fraud and racketeering, as well as withholding information about its conduct from shareholders— even though Playtech Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer actively participated in preparing and spreading the defamatory report’.

Evolution noted: “We are formally naming Playtech in our lawsuit because the facts are clear: Playtech hired Black Cube to create and publicise a defamatory report designed to harm Evolution, all while misleading the market and lying to investors about its role. 

“For nearly four years, Playtech spent millions of dollars in legal fees to conceal its involvement in this smear campaign and avoid accountability.”

Evolution continued: “We are confident in our rigorous compliance policies and practices, and that the facts in this case are on our side. We look forward to holding Playtech, Black Cube, and all their accomplices accountable for the harm they have caused.”

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