UK Regulator Details Evolution's £4.75m Settlement Over Unlicensed Game Access

The Gambling Commission has provided granular details on its £4.75 million ($6.35 million) settlement with Evolution, revealing how the supplier's online casino content ended up on websites run by unlicensed operators. The settlement concludes a probe that uncovered Evolution games were available on six unlicensed sites accessible to British players.

The regulator’s investigation determined that Evolution’s risk assessment procedures failed to flag two business partners that were offering its games to UK customers without the necessary Gambling Commission licence. Between December 2023 and November 2024, those six websites attracted significant traffic from consumers in Great Britain.

In August 2024, Commission staff spotted what appeared to be Evolution titles on the black-market sites and notified the supplier that December. Evolution confirmed the games were authentic and then permanently blocked UK players from accessing the titles on the problematic sites.

The inquiry pinpointed shortcomings in Evolution’s anti-money laundering (AML) and risk-assessment frameworks. The Commission concluded that the company’s controls were not robust enough to detect the risk of its games being supplied to the UK market through unlicensed channels. Specifically, Evolution’s 2024 risk assessment did not properly address third-party risks, and its due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and blocking controls were found lacking.

John Pierce, the Commission’s Director of Enforcement, stated: “The company's AML risk assessment was outdated and failed to adequately consider the risk of its games being made available through unlicensed operators.” He added that this case exposed “serious weaknesses” in Evolution’s AML risk assessment and oversight of supply-chain risks.

Under the settlement, Evolution will pay £4.75 million in lieu of a financial penalty, commission an independent audit of its relevant policies and procedures within 12 months, and reimburse the Commission’s investigation costs. The regulator cited aggravating factors including illegal market activity, potential financial gain from the breaches, and risks to vulnerable consumers. It also acknowledged Evolution’s cooperation, early admission of failings, and the corrective steps it has taken.