Evolution reaches £4.75 million settlement with the UK Gambling Commission over black market review

Evolution, a leading provider of online casino services with offices in Malta, has reached a GBP 4.75 million settlement with the UK Gambling Commission, concluding the licence review that had been initiated in December 2024.

The review had been initiated after the Commission identified Evolution games being accessible from the UK through operators not holding a Commission license.

The company said that the settlement primarily relates to findings that Evolution game content was available via two operators on six websites that – in breach of Evolution’s terms of supply – offered content to British consumers without a UK licence.

The operators actively evaded restrictions that were in place at the time, Evolution said.

“Importantly, during the 18-month review, no broader pattern of unlicensed access to Evolution content in the UK has been identified,” the company added. Evolution said that it has fully cooperated with the Commission consistent with its longstanding approach to regulatory engagement. The company said it routinely takes technical, legal and commercial action to identify, address and prevent unauthorised access to its content.

Evolution said that upon discovery, the commercial relationships with the two operators whose websites offered Evolution content that may have been accessed by British consumers were terminated.

Evolution said that it continuously strengthens its technical measures and refines its procedures, with the introduction of enhanced ring-fencing measures among the latest developments.

It said that while no system can entirely eliminate attempts by third parties to circumvent controls, it remains committed to continued investment in industry-leading compliance standards and to work with regulators.

Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution, said: “At Evolution, we always want to do what is right, and it is not acceptable that six unlicensed sites offered Evolution content in the regulated UK market. We do not want traffic from unlicensed operators and will always move quickly to address any such situation. We welcome the conclusion of the review and remain focused on continuing to supply our world-leading games to licensed operators in the UK.”