Evolution Closer to Exposing Entity Behind Unfounded but Damning 2021 Report

Posted on: April 22, 2025, 01:50h. 

Last updated on: April 22, 2025, 02:36h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • An Israeli intelligence firm was behind the Evolution 2021 report
  • Black Cube claimed four years ago that Evolution operates in black markets
  • Who commissioned Black Cube remains unknown
  • New Jersey regulators found no evidence of Black Cube’s claims

Evolution AB, a leading provider of online gaming products and services in the United States and international markets where iGaming is permitted, is a step closer to learning the identity of the group that commissioned a report in 2021 about its global operations.

Evolution 2021 report Black Cube iGaming
The global probe into Evolution AB’s online gaming business was carried out by an Israeli intelligence firm called Black Cube. The disclosure came through court records made public this week in New Jersey’s Superior Court in Atlantic County. (Image: Shutterstock)

In November 2021, New Jersey-based white-collar litigation law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky (C-K) filed a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE)supposedly tipping off the Atlantic City casino and state iGaming regulator that Evolution wasn’t suitable to possess an online gaming license. The complaint alleged that an unknown investigative team was able to access Evolution’s online live-dealer games in various black markets, including in several countries facing US sanctions.

Evolution’s primary business is providing live-dealer table games via the internet from its remote studios. The complaint fielded by the DGE claimed Evolution’s blackjack, craps, roulette, and other interactive live casino offerings were accessed in countries where such online gambling isn’t allowed, including in sanctioned nations like Sudan, Syria, and Iraq.

The DGE’s probe into the matter turned up no evidence that Evolution allowed its live-dealer streams to be accessed in such markets. Evolution subsequently sued C-K on defamation allegations.

Investigative Team Unveiled

C-K appealed to allow the law firm to keep confidential the investigation group that carried out the global operation. However, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge John Porto said Evolution was entitled to the disclosure in part of its discovery related to the civil lawsuit. The New Jersey Supreme Court later agreed.

On Monday, C-K made public that Black Cube, an intelligence service based in Israel, was behind the global probe. However, C-K maintained that it doesn’t know who commissioned the Black Cube team to travel across much of the world to see if Evolution’s products were accessible in places where they shouldn’t be.

C-K does not know the identity of the entity or individual who engaged Black Cube to perform the investigation on which the Report is based,” Kevin Marino, an attorney representing C-K’s defense, wrote Evolution’s counsel. “C-K has asked Black Cube to provide that information and will supplement its interrogatories when Black Cube does so.”

Thomas Calcagni of C-K certified in a court filing that he doesn’t know Black Cube’s anonymous client.

“Contrary to the assertion in Evolution’s brief on this motion, that information is not in C-K’s possession, custody, or control. Neither do we have the ability, power, or right to compel Black Cube to disclose that information.”

Case Continued

Evolution attorneys have asked the Atlantic County Superior Court to rule in their favor that C-K has engaged in prejudicial delay. They allege that C-K worked closely with Black Cube and should know the entity behind the operation.

Evolution’s stock price remains considerably below the $161 it was trading at in November 2021 when the report dropped. The stock is hovering around $86 this week.

Evolution conceded in December that its iGaming services were accessed on unlicensed online gaming platforms in the UK but that the situation had been remedied. It continues to deny that it’s ever allowed its live casino products in countries where such forms of gambling aren’t legal.  

Black Cube stands by its findings. In a statement to Casino.org, the group says:

Black Cube stands firmly behind the contents of the investigative report and is fully prepared to prove its validity and accuracy in court. The evidence we have exposes widespread misconduct by Evolution, and operations in sanctioned countries and Black Markets. The evidence invalidates Evolution’s attempts to suppress the truth through intimidation and legal maneuvers. In addition to the original findings, Black Cube has since gathered new and material evidence that directly contradicts Evolution’s claims made before regulators and the judiciary. This evidence will be submitted in court or to relevant regulators in due course. Beyond Black Cube’s investigation, public domain sources reinforce concerns about Evolution’s (EVO) business practices. These include, among others, Class Action lawsuits filed by investors in Pennsylvania and in New York, and most notably, a recent investigation by the UK Gambling Commission. Black Cube will not be silenced by attempts to discredit its investigative work. The company remains committed to exposing the truth with concrete evidence and will pursue all necessary legal avenues to ensure that the facts are brought to light.