UKGC Hides Scope of Evolution AB Licence Review
Regulator cites 'law enforcement' exemption to withhold details of its Section 116 investigation into the major games supplier.
The UK Gambling Commission has refused a Freedom of Information request seeking details on its licence review of major supplier Evolution AB. Citing law enforcement exemptions, the regulator will not disclose the original or current scope of the investigation. This decision leaves consumers and the industry in the dark about the specific concerns being examined.
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UKGC Refuses to Detail Evolution Investigation
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has refused to release details about the scope of its ongoing licence review into Evolution AB, one of the world's largest suppliers of live casino and slot games. In a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 19 February 2025, the regulator confirmed it holds the information but is withholding it to protect its regulatory functions.
The decision leaves consumers, operators, and investors in the dark about the specific issues being examined under the formal Section 116 review, which was first announced by Evolution AB in December 2024.
The Request and The Refusal
The FOI request asked for two key pieces of information:
- The original scope of the Section 116 review into Evolution AB and its subsidiaries, including NetEnt and Red Tiger.
- Whether the scope of the review has changed, and if so, what the new scope is.
In response, the UKGC confirmed it holds information regarding the original scope but is exempting it from disclosure under Section 31(1)g of the FOIA, which relates to 'law enforcement'. The Commission argued that releasing this information would prejudice its ability to regulate effectively by revealing its investigation techniques and undermining the trust it has with operators.
For the second part of the request, concerning any changes to the investigation's scope, the UKGC took a harder line. It refused to either confirm or deny whether it holds any such information, again citing the law enforcement exemption. The regulator stated that even confirming or denying the existence of this information could alert individuals involved and allow them to "alter their behaviours or evade detection."
What This Means for Consumers
A Section 116 review is a serious regulatory tool that allows the UKGC to assess a company's fitness to hold a UK licence. Following a review, the Commission can take actions ranging from issuing advice to imposing a significant financial penalty, suspending, or even revoking a licence.
Evolution AB is a business-to-business supplier, meaning its games, such as live roulette, blackjack, and popular slots, are featured on hundreds of UK-licensed online casino websites. A review of its licence could have wide-ranging implications for the entire industry.
The UKGC's refusal to provide transparency means that players remain unaware of the specific concerns that triggered the review. While the Commission argues that secrecy is necessary to protect the integrity of its investigation and, ultimately, the public, it creates an information vacuum. Consumers continue to play games supplied by a company under a significant regulatory cloud without knowing the nature of the potential risks or compliance failings being scrutinised.
In its response, the UKGC balanced the public interest in transparency against the need to conduct effective investigations. It concluded that "the public interest is better served by withholding this information, ensuring that consumers are protected through our processes rather than releasing information about our processes."