Published on: December 27, 2024, 11:01h.
Last updated on: December 27, 2024, 11:01h.
Evolution AB [ST:EVOG] saw a 10% drop in its shares on the final trading day before Christmas due to concerns over its license review by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The stock saw a small increase on Friday.
The investigation centers around allegations that Evolution’s games were available to UK players through unlicensed operators, which the company admitted to in a note to investors on December 20. Evolution confirmed that its games were on unlicensed sites but stated that the issue has been resolved.
“…[G]ames on the identified websites not holding a Commission license have been made unavailable from the UK,” read the note.
‘Forceful Action’
CEO Martin Carlesund stated that the company is taking necessary measures to ensure its games are only accessible for British players through UK licensed operators.
Evolution remains committed to transparent cooperation with regulators, Carlesund added.
Shareholders are worried about the potential implications of the review, including hefty fines, license suspension, or revocation.
Although the UK contributes only about 3% of Evolution’s revenues, analysts at Jeffries believe that investors are concerned that this review may trigger regulatory actions in other regions.
Pareto analysts believe that these concerns are exaggerated and Evolution is not at risk of losing its UK license.
Mystery Report
Evolution is currently involved in a defamation lawsuit against an unidentified entity that authored a 2021 report accusing the company of operating in various black markets, including countries under US sanctions like Iraq, Sudan, and Syria.
The report was presented by the law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
Following a DGE investigation, Evolution was cleared of any regulatory violations and was cleared of any wrongdoing in February 2024. The company has yet to uncover the identity of its accuser, despite petitioning the New Jersey Superior Court.
In April, a judge ruled that more investigation was necessary to address the allegations before revealing the accuser’s identity to Evolution.
The news of the DGE investigation led to a $3 billion drop in Evolution’s market cap, according to the company’s lawsuit.