Black Cube asks New Jersey court to dismiss Evolution's lawsuit under anti-SLAPP law
Investigative firm Black Cube has moved to dismiss Evolution's legal challenge under New Jersey's UPEPA, with a hearing set for November 16. The outcome could affect whether Playtech is added as a defendant.
GamblingSource: GamblingNews
Black Cube, the investigative firm at the center of a long-running dispute with live casino supplier Evolution, has filed a new motion asking a court to throw out Evolution's lawsuit. According to a report by Next.io, the request relies on New Jersey's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, the state's anti-SLAPP law. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for November 16.
The motion is not widely expected to succeed, and analysts do not anticipate an immediate decision. A formal ruling could take several weeks to arrive, and either side would be able to appeal it.
The conflict goes back to 2021, when a Black Cube report alleged that Evolution made its games available in restricted markets. Following the allegations, Evolution's share price fell sharply and the company took legal action. Interest in the case grew considerably once it emerged that Playtech was the unnamed party behind the Black Cube investigation.
Later court filings have disclosed more about Playtech's role. Evolution contends that its rival helped produce and distribute the report as part of a deliberate effort to damage its business. Playtech denies this, arguing that Black Cube's findings raised legitimate concerns that merited closer examination.
Evolution first tried to bring Playtech into the case through an amended complaint filed in April, but a New Jersey judge rejected that request in June. Playtech now argues that the suit against Black Cube is meant to draw attention away from the original allegations. Depending on how the court handles the dismissal motion, Evolution could get a fresh opportunity to name Playtech as an additional defendant.
Black Cube, for its part, says recent discoveries back up its 2021 report. It points to a report by research firm Spectrum Gaming Group, commissioned by Evolution, which is central to those claims. Black Cube also argues that Evolution's settlement with the UK Gambling Commission lends further support to its position.
It is still unclear when the matter might go to trial. Should Evolution end up a defendant during discovery, it could face demanding disclosure obligations and questions about sensitive parts of its business. Any such developments, however, depend on the ruling that follows the November hearing.
Based on reporting by GamblingNews.