UKGC Confirms Ongoing Evolution Licence Review

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has officially confirmed it is conducting an ongoing review of the operating licence held by Evolution Malta Holding Limited, a dominant supplier of live casino games to UK-facing gambling websites.

The confirmation came in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 27 January 2026. The disclosure provides rare official insight into the regulatory status of one of the industry's largest B2B providers, but leaves crucial questions about the investigation's focus unanswered.

What the Data Reveals

A Section 116 review is a formal power used by the UKGC to assess whether a company remains suitable to hold a licence and is complying with its conditions. The FOI response confirmed several key points:

• Active Investigation: The Commission stated that the Section 116 review of Evolution's licence is "currently ongoing."
• No Fixed Timeline: The UKGC confirmed it holds "no information... specifying the expected completion date, or any revised project timelines for this specific review." This indicates the investigation is open-ended.
• Scope is Secret: While the Commission holds documents outlining the scope of the investigation, it has refused to release them. The UKGC cited section 31(1)g of the FOIA ('law enforcement'), arguing that disclosure would likely prejudice its ability to carry out its regulatory functions.
• International Cooperation Unconfirmed: The regulator refused to confirm or deny whether it had contacted other international gaming regulators regarding the investigation. It invoked Section 31(3) of the FOIA, stating that confirming or denying the existence of such information could alert individuals and undermine the integrity of its work.

Why This Matters for Consumers

Evolution is not a consumer-facing brand, but it provides the live dealer casino games—such as blackjack, roulette, and game shows—found on hundreds of UK-licensed online casinos. A Section 116 review into a supplier of this scale is significant because it scrutinises a core part of the online gambling supply chain.

The UKGC's decision to withhold the specific reasons for the review under law enforcement exemptions suggests the matter is being treated with considerable seriousness. The regulator's public interest test stated that releasing details could "reveal the techniques the Commission uses in general when conducting investigations" and "severely hamper the effectiveness" of its processes.

While the review is ongoing and no outcome has been determined, its existence confirms that the UKGC is actively assessing the B2B giant's compliance with British regulations. The final outcome, when published, could have wide-ranging implications for B2B due diligence and compliance standards across the industry.