Hot Potato

What is Hot Potato?

However, Playtech suggested that Evolution had failed to provide data that would have let Spectrum determine whether gaming sessions had occurred in Iran, Syria and Sudan. 

It also said Spectrum was able to “specifically corroborate” Black Cube’s claims that Evolution’s games were accessible and generating revenue in several “prohibited locations”. These included Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Evolution has for several years denied any involvement in illegal activity. In a statement to iGB in November, the company said its defamation litigation aimed to hold Playtech and Black Cube “accountable for its wrongdoing” and to protect shareholder value.

What is Hot Potato?

It is important to stress that the Commission has not published detailed findings or established that breaches occurred. Customers can still access their accounts and withdraw funds. Following the closures the sites still provided messaging about the suspended licences.

Even so, suspension is an unusually forceful intervention.

“In my experience, where compliance concerns can be satisfactorily addressed without suspending an operator’s licence, the Commission may allow the operator to implement remedial measures or an action plan while continuing to trade,” says Richard Williams, partner at Keystone Law, speaking before the news of the collapse of the businesses.

What is Hot Potato?

There are also strategic questions around dependence on AI providers.

Cubeia is currently heavily reliant on Claude, and Grenstad questions what could happen if AI providers raise prices or if quality changes. For now, however, Grenstad sees the uncertainty as something Cubeia can learn to manage.

“We’re confident that the question marks will be solved as we work through them. We’ll see the problems, learn how to manage them, and adapt.”