A New Jersey judge has dismissed Evolution's attempt to include Playtech as a defendant in its ongoing defamation lawsuit linked to the Black Cube report, which resulted in a significant loss in the supplier's market value.
On June 5, Judge John Porto of the Superior Court of New Jersey denied Evolution's motion to file a second amended complaint and to lift a stay under the state's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA). Both requests were rejected without prejudice, allowing for potential future submissions.
This ruling marks a procedural hurdle for Evolution, but it does not preclude the company from reapplying later in the legal process.
In April, Evolution sought to add Playtech to the case, stemming from allegations in a report that claimed Playtech operated in restricted markets such as China, Iran, and Sudan.
The original complaint was filed in 2021 by the law firm Calcagni & Kanefsky on behalf of an unnamed client, based on findings from the private intelligence agency Black Cube. Following these allegations, Evolution saw a drop of over $3 billion in its market capitalization and subsequently sued the law firm, asserting that the report was “inaccurate, false, defamatory, and methodologically flawed.”
In February 2024, the investigation by the regulator concluded with no wrongdoing found on Evolution’s part. Court documents from 2025 identified Playtech as the unnamed client that commissioned Black Cube to investigate Evolution.
Evolution accused Playtech of orchestrating a smear campaign to undermine its reputation and competitive edge in North America, filing claims of trade libel, fraud, and racketeering in its April motion, which also implicated Playtech CEO Mor Weizer regarding comments made to investors.
Playtech has denied these accusations, labeling them as unfounded while asserting its support for the report's commissioning and conclusions.
The June 5 ruling did not clarify the court's rationale for denying Evolution's amendment request. However, reports indicate that the decision was procedural, tied to the ongoing UPEPA proceedings, New Jersey's anti-SLAPP legislation.
Depending on the outcome of these proceedings, the case could be dismissed or allowed to continue, at which point Evolution may again pursue adding Playtech as a defendant.
A hearing is set for November, with retired U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler appointed as a special adjudicator to assist in resolving ongoing discovery disputes. Should the case advance beyond the anti-SLAPP phase, Evolution could once more seek permission to include Playtech in the lawsuit.