UKGC Withholds Status of Evolution AB Licence Review
Regulator cites law enforcement exemption in refusing to confirm if a major investigation is ongoing, suggesting a sensitive and active case.
The UK Gambling Commission has refused to disclose the status of its licence review into major games supplier Evolution AB. Citing law enforcement exemptions, the regulator's silence suggests a complex and ongoing investigation into the provider behind many popular live casino and slot games.
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UKGC Silent on Major Supplier Investigation
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has refused to disclose whether its licence review into major B2B supplier Evolution AB is ongoing, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) response published on 15 September 2025. The regulator's decision to withhold the information suggests a complex and active investigation into one of the industry's largest game providers.
Context: A Key Industry Player Under Scrutiny
Evolution AB, along with its subsidiaries like NetEnt and Red Tiger, is a dominant force in the UK online gambling market. The company provides the live casino games, slot titles, and backend platforms used by a vast number of UK-licensed online casinos.
A licence review by the UKGC is a serious regulatory process that can result in significant sanctions. This lack of transparency leaves consumers and the wider industry in the dark about the regulatory standing of a company whose products are central to the UK's online casino offering.
Details of the FOI Refusal
The FOI request asked the Commission to confirm if a Section 116 licence review into Evolution AB, reportedly launched in December 2024, was still active. It also asked for the date of the last update on the case file if the primary question could not be answered.
The UKGC refused both parts of the request.
For the first part, the Commission stated that a request for the current status of a case is not a request for specific recorded information and could not be processed. For the second part, it confirmed it held information on the last update but would withhold it under Section 31(1)(g) of the FOIA, commonly known as the 'law enforcement' exemption.
What is a Section 116 Review?
A Section 116 review is one of the UKGC's primary tools for assessing a licence holder's compliance. Following a review, the Commission can:
- Take no further action
- Issue a warning or advice
- Impose a financial penalty
- Add, amend, or remove licence conditions
- Suspend or revoke the operator's licence
The UKGC justified its refusal by stating that disclosure would likely prejudice its ability to carry out its regulatory functions. It argued that revealing even the date of the last activity could "severely hamper the effectiveness of the Commission’s investigatory processes in future cases" and "undermine the trust the Commission has gained with operators."
Significance: What This Means for Consumers
While the UKGC's official position is that secrecy protects the integrity of its investigation, the use of the powerful law enforcement exemption is significant. It strongly indicates that the review into Evolution AB is not only active but is also a sensitive and material inquiry.
The regulator weighed the public interest in transparency against the need to protect its processes, ultimately concluding that withholding the information was necessary. For consumers, this means that while a major supplier is under a significant cloud of regulatory suspicion, the details remain confidential. The outcome of this review, when it is eventually published, could have major implications for the availability of popular games across the UK market.