According to a statement issued by the live casino software giant Evolution, the company's UKGC license is currently under review due to suspected unlicensed activity.

The one-page publication from the Malta-based company outlines the reasons behind the review as well as its potential outcomes.

Why Is Evolution Under Review?

According to Evo's own claims, the United Kingdom's Gambling Commission has identified sites that offer Evolution casino games to UK players despite not being permitted to operate within the country. Although Evolution's own permits are in order, the fact that these operators are not also licensed is a breach of online gambling regulations.

The review was launched under Section 116 of the Gambling Act of 2005.

Section 116 of the Act gives the Commission the power to review any matter relating to a licence if the Commission:

  • suspects that conditions of a licence have been or are being breached
  • believes that the licence holder or any person connected with the licensed activities, has been convicted of a relevant offence in Great Britain or abroad

It may seem odd that Evolution is held responsible for the actions of operators it has no direct control over. However, the UK gambling code is notoriously strict – especially in terms of preventing unregulated sites from offering gambling in the country. Of course, that's why it's also counted among the most respected permits in the industry.

The review is potentially a result of a recent update to the Gambling Act which specifically addressed the licensee evaluation process.

Possible Consequences

The pending review can have a range of possible outcomes for Evolution, as per the statement we mentioned. These include:

  • No real consequences
  • Financial sanctions
  • Additional conditions for the license
  • Suspension or revocation of the license

No matter the outcome, the software provider will probably be fine. Their reports indicate that the UK market accounts for only 3% of their total revenue.

However, fans of live casinos in the UK could find their access to live dealer tables severely restricted. Evolution is by far the biggest name in the live casino software industry, accounting for some of the most popular and widespread games in the business.

For now, Evolution CEO simply stated that:

“We are now taking forceful action using all technical tools available to us to ensure that our games only are available in the UK through Commission licensed operators. We believe that a close collaboration to address our joint concerns will lead to swifter and better results. As always we remain committed to an open and transparent relationship with our regulators. “