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Evolution Gaming’s Stock Tanks After Q3 Miss and Rival Smear Allegations
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Evolution Gaming’s Stock Tanks After Q3 Miss and Rival Smear Allegations

by
23 October 2025

EVO.ST ~SEK 668.3 (Oct 23, 2025); ∼–8% over the week [1] [2]. YTD ↓∼30% [3]. Market cap ~SEK 15.5 bn [4]. Q3 2025 revenue €507.1 M (–2.4% YoY; consensus €536 M) [5]. Adjusted EBITDA €337 M (66.5% margin) vs forecast €356 M [6]. EPS €1.25 (below €1.57 est.) [7]. Dividend yield ~4.2% (DPS 30.64 SEK) [8]. Analyst consensus: mostly “Buy” with ~SEK 938 average target [9] [10] (range SEK 656–1,512 [11]). Evolution holds ~45% of the global live-casino market (vs ~30% for Playtech, 25% Pragmatic) [12] [13], and has 20+ studios worldwide [14]. Major developments: October launch of Ezugi games in US [15]; Jan 2025 Hasbro partnership to create Monopoly-branded casino games [16]; Brazilian studio opened July 2025 [17]. Recent news: Fallout from a 2021 “smear report” has intensified, with Evolution accusing rival Playtech of commissioning it [18], sparking a steep selloff in Playtech’s stock [19].

Stock Performance & Trading Update

Evolution AB (EVO.ST) shares are under pressure. As of Oct 23, 2025 the stock traded around SEK 668, down about 8% over the prior week [20] [21]. Over the past month EVO has fallen ~20% [22]. Trading sites note the stock is down roughly 9.5% week-on-week and nearly 30% year-to-date [23]. This decline accelerated on Oct 21–22 after Q3 results disappointed and media reports blew up a long-running rivalry.

Q3 2025 Results – Miss and Management Comments

On Oct 23 Evolution reported Q3 2025 net revenues of €507.1 million, a 2.4% decline from last year and below the €536 M consensus [24]. Adjusted EBITDA came in at €337 M (66.5% margin) versus an expected €356 M [25]. Net profit fell to €252.3 M (EPS €1.25 vs €1.57 expected) [26]. CEO Martin Carlesund acknowledged that “we are not satisfied with our growth so far this year,” citing uneven performance [27]. He noted Europe, North America and Latin America were “fair to good,” but Asia remains “far from satisfactory” due to persistent cybercrime and regulatory uncertainty [28] [29]. Evolution raised counter-fraud measures in Asia, but Carlesund warned some measures “impacted legitimate end users,” curbing revenue [30]. Notably, a volatile new regulatory regime in the Philippines and nascent regulation in India also weighed on Asian growth [31]. Despite the top-line miss, Carlesund said disciplined cost control helped lift margins “within our full-year forecast of 66–68%” [32], and reiterated that the company expects to remain in that range through Q4 [33].

Rival Smear Campaign Drama

Just before the earnings release, Evolution made headlines by unmasking a rival in a smear-campaign scandal. On Oct 21 the company publicly identified London-listed Playtech as the client behind a 2021 private intelligence report (by Black Cube) that alleged Evolution had illicit operations in China, Iran and other markets. Evolution said court documents show Playtech paid Black Cube about £1.8 million to produce and leak the report, “to damage our business and reputation” [34]. The revelation triggered a severe market reaction: Playtech’s stock plunged roughly 25–30% in one day, wiping out ~£300 million of value [35] [36]. Playtech quickly denied any “smear campaign,” defending its probe as a legitimate investigation [37] [38]. The two companies have now traded legal volleys, with Evolution vowing to “hold Playtech … responsible” for the defamation [39]. This public feud has spotlighted Evolution’s industry fight but also briefly boosted its own stock (up ~1% on Oct 21 even as Playtech sank) [40].

Industry Position & Global Expansion

Evolution remains the dominant live-casino game provider worldwide. It reported €2.21 billion in revenue in 2024, of which ~80% was live casino (roulette, blackjack, baccarat, etc.) [41]. As of mid-2025 the firm was estimated to have about 45% of the global live-casino market – far ahead of closest rivals (Playtech ~30%, Pragmatic Play ~25%) [42] [43]. Evolution runs over 1,700 live tables globally and works with 800+ gaming operators [44] [45]. It has built a broad international footprint: at end-2023 Evolution had 20 live-studio production facilities spanning the US (5 studios), Canada, Europe (Malta, Spain, Baltic States, etc.) and Latin America [46]. In early 2025 Evolution pressed these advantages: it opened a live studio in São Paulo, Brazil in July (the first supplier licensed on day one of Brazil’s new gaming law) [47], and built Portuguese-speaking Blackjack tables to appeal to Brazilians [48]. In North America, Evolution has five U.S. studios and in Oct 2025 launched its acquired brand Ezugi in New Jersey [49] (streaming from a new Atlantic City studio). CEO Jacob Claesson said the Ezugi rollout “is an important step in our North American growth strategy” [50]; a Michigan studio is slated for early 2026 [51]. Evolution’s product innovation remains strong – it recently rolled out new live games (e.g. Lightning Bac Bo, First Person Baccarat) and is developing many more titles (over 100 planned in 2025 [52] [53]). In Jan 2025 it announced an exclusive deal with Hasbro to build casino games using the Monopoly brand and other Hasbro IP; new Monopoly-themed live game shows and slots will debut in 2026 [54] [55]. These global moves underscore Evolution’s strategy of localized content and premium branding.

Analyst Views & Forecasts

Analysts are conflicted. TipRanks notes the “most recent analyst rating” on EVO is a Buy with a SEK1,000 price target [56]. Aggregators show about half of analysts still bullish: one consensus tracker cites an average 2025 target near kr938, implying ~30% upside [57]. TradingView data similarly lists a high target ~1,342 SEK and a low ~598 SEK [58]. By contrast, some research houses have trimmed forecasts after recent news: Cantor Fitzgerald on Oct 21 cut Evolution’s rating to Underweight and its 12‑month target to SEK 635 [59]; JP Morgan likewise reduced its target to SEK 675 [60]. These downgrades cite lower growth visibility amid Asian headwinds and competitive pressure. On the other hand, analysts who remain constructive often highlight Evolution’s resilient margins and long-term opportunities in regulated markets. In its Q3 presentation, Evolution reconfirmed FY EBITDA margin guidance (66–68%), and executives reiterated confidence that cost control and a diversified revenue base will sustain profitability.

Risks & Opportunities

Evolution’s chief risks include its heavy exposure to Asia, where cyber-attacks and regulatory crackdowns have repeatedly dented results [61]. The company warned that fighting fraud is a “constant balancing act” that can sometimes depress Asian revenue [62]. Regulatory scrutiny is rising: in 2025 the UK Gambling Commission even reviewed Evolution’s license after finding some of its games on unlicensed sites [63]. Competition is fierce; besides Playtech and Pragmatic, newer entrants like Playtech’s B2B spinoffs and smaller studios are nipping at Evolution’s heels. The recent defamation saga also poses a reputational risk, depending on legal outcomes. However, the company’s large scale, premium brand and high recurring revenue from longtime operator contracts are strong moats. Opportunities are plentiful: legalized gaming in the U.S. and Latin America, plus new B2B products (AI-driven game design, RNG slots) could fuel growth. The Hasbro deal and U.S. expansion (Ezugi’s US launch, planned Michigan studio) open substantial new revenue streams.

In summary, Evolution remains widely viewed as the world leader in live casino, with robust free cash flow and dividends (yield ~4.2% [64]). The recent Q3 miss and headlines drove short-term weakness, but many analysts still see upside if management navigates Asia’s challenges and captures growth in North America and LatAm [65] [66]. As one strategist noted, “Evolution continues to set the standard” in this industry [67]. Investors will watch upcoming quarters closely to see if the company can translate its market share and product pipeline into renewed growth.

Sources: Company filings and press releases [68] [69] [70] [71]; financial news and analysis (Reuters, Marketscreener/Finwire) [72] [73] [74]; industry interviews and reports [75] [76]; stock data aggregator [77] [78]; Investing.com [79].

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References

1. www.marketscreener.com, 2. www.tradingview.com, 3. www.tradingview.com, 4. www.marketscreener.com, 5. www.marketscreener.com, 6. www.marketscreener.com, 7. www.marketscreener.com, 8. www.investing.com, 9. www.tipranks.com, 10. stocksguide.com, 11. stocksguide.com, 12. www.pokertube.com, 13. www.pokertube.com, 14. www.marketscreener.com, 15. agbrief.com, 16. www.evolution.com, 17. www.yogonet.com, 18. sbcnews.co.uk, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.marketscreener.com, 21. www.tradingview.com, 22. www.tradingview.com, 23. www.tradingview.com, 24. www.marketscreener.com, 25. www.marketscreener.com, 26. www.marketscreener.com, 27. www.marketscreener.com, 28. www.marketscreener.com, 29. www.marketscreener.com, 30. www.marketscreener.com, 31. www.marketscreener.com, 32. www.marketscreener.com, 33. www.marketscreener.com, 34. sbcnews.co.uk, 35. sbcnews.co.uk, 36. www.reuters.com, 37. sbcnews.co.uk, 38. www.reuters.com, 39. sbcnews.co.uk, 40. www.reuters.com, 41. www.pokertube.com, 42. www.pokertube.com, 43. www.pokertube.com, 44. www.pokertube.com, 45. www.tipranks.com, 46. www.marketscreener.com, 47. www.yogonet.com, 48. www.yogonet.com, 49. agbrief.com, 50. agbrief.com, 51. agbrief.com, 52. www.pokertube.com, 53. www.evolution.com, 54. www.evolution.com, 55. www.evolution.com, 56. www.tipranks.com, 57. stocksguide.com, 58. www.tradingview.com, 59. www.marketscreener.com, 60. www.marketscreener.com, 61. www.marketscreener.com, 62. www.marketscreener.com, 63. www.pokertube.com, 64. www.investing.com, 65. www.marketscreener.com, 66. www.pokertube.com, 67. www.pokertube.com, 68. www.marketscreener.com, 69. www.evolution.com, 70. agbrief.com, 71. www.yogonet.com, 72. www.marketscreener.com, 73. sbcnews.co.uk, 74. www.reuters.com, 75. www.pokertube.com, 76. www.tipranks.com, 77. www.tradingview.com, 78. stocksguide.com, 79. www.investing.com

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Mateusz Kaczmarek Latest posts

A technology and finance expert writing for TS2.tech. He analyzes developments in satellites, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on their impact on global markets. Author of industry reports and market commentary, often cited in tech and business media. Passionate about innovation and the digital economy.

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