Evolution is in hot water with the UK Gambling Commission for license issues and possible black market activity.

For some, 2025 is a fresh start, and January marks the beginning of new opportunities and possibilities. For others, the year starts with some uphill battlesthat may impact the rest of 2025 and the opportunities it brings.

Evolution has started the year under review by the UK’s Gambling Commission for licensing issues—and it could be a serious problem.

Evolution’s regulatory struggle

By the end of 2024, it came to light that the UK Gambling Commission had launched a review of Evolution’s UK operating license. The review comes after the regulator discovered that the provider’s games are available in unlicensed casinos in the country.

The issue is subject to inspection, and shortly after being made aware of the problem, Evolution has stepped up and taken action, ensuring the Commission gets their full cooperation.

The software provider was informed by the UKGC that a review is underway of Evolution Malta Holding Limited’s operating license. The primary reason is that Evolution games have been found to be accessible via operators not licensed by the regulatory body.

Full cooperation

The live dealer game provider released a statement in late December 2024 saying it will cooperate fully with the Commission. The supplier states that it has requested immediate actions to remedy the situation.

Evolution has put weight behind its words by making sure that its games are only available at websites that hold a UK Commission license. Around 3%of Evolution’s revenue is from the UK market, and the company is willing to sort through the issuesand ensure that it remains compliant.

Evolution's CEO, Martin Carlesund, commented the supplier embraces the review's objectivesand remains committed to supporting the licensed UK market and preventing unlicensed traffic. He has stressed that they are using all technical tools available to ensure the only Evolution games accessible to UK players are via Commission-licensed operators. Carlesund added:

"We believe that a close collaboration to address our joint concerns will lead to swifter and better results. As always, we remain committed to an open and transparent relationship with our regulators.”

There are several potential outcomes to the investigation. The Commission could take no action, or it could choose to impose financial sanctions. Evolution may be facing conditions to its supplier licenseto UK online casinos or possibly even the suspension or revocationof its license entirely.

A bumpy road for Evolution

Evolution has faced several challenges in the last couple of months. In addition to the Commission review, they have also experienced disruptions due to union strikesat their studio in Georgia. According to the CAO, the demands are unreasonable, and studio operations have been reduced.

The game supplier has also been a victim of increased cyberattacks, with a main focus being Asia. This has impacted their revenues. Despite the tensions and struggles, Evolution is financially standing strong.

At the time of writing, Evolution AB is trading at SEK 838.60, an increase from the 11.8%it fell after news broke of the Commission review. At the time, it stood at SEK 806.80.

Stay updated with the latest results on the Commission review of Evolutionand all the news about the newest information about licenses and regulationsat CasinoWow.