Evoke plc and some of its top executives face renewed scrutiny, this time in Austria, where the company’s CEO, Per Widerström, has been named in a private criminal complaint related to a dispute over historic gambling losses. The case, brought by an Austrian physician, was filed with the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office on November 13 to find out whether Evoke and its subsidiaries illegally offered gambling services in Austria.

The Lawsuit Accuses Evoke of Operating Without Authorization

According to a recent Next.io report, court documents mention Widerström, the company’s former international managing director, and several Malta-licensed brands that operate under the Evoke umbrella. The complaint reportedly contains a detailed statement of facts that accuses the business of operating in Austria without local authorization and in breach of the country’s gambling monopoly.

The physician behind the lawsuit is trying to recover years of gambling losses, claiming that they were generated through unlicensed play. Alongside the Austrian complaint, his legal team has started bankruptcy proceedings in Malta, where Evoke’s headquarters are located. The lawyers allege that they have been unable to trace the business’s money on the island. 

Evoke’s financial disclosures indicate that the company is aware of potential legal risks. The group designated £116 million ($151.6 million) in its 2024 annual report for legal and regulatory disputes, naming Austria and Germany as the primary sources of risk. According to the report, prosecutors will at least examine the accusations, although it remains unclear whether this will lead to criminal charges.

The Lawsuit Is Tied to Broader Cross-Border Gambling Disputes

Much of the legal tension arises from Malta’s Bill 55, the controversial law passed in June 2023 that protects Malta-licensed companies from foreign court rulings regarding gambling losses. The legislation blocks the enforcement of money judgments made by other EU states, shielding the operators from the increasing number of claims in Germany and Austria.

Documents reportedly reviewed by NEXT.io add another twist to the situation. In a cross-examination transcript related to a separate case, a senior Evoke official allegedly confirmed that the company was aware that it was operating outside of Austria’s legal boundaries but was confident that the Maltese license provided sufficient protection. He also reportedly stated that the highest levels of the business were against compensating players.

The dispute aligns with a critical point in Europe’s wider battle over the cross-border gambling market. In September, Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou issued a non-binding opinion at the European Court of Justice, indicating that player loss claims should not be regarded as an abuse of EU law. An ECJ judgment is expected in 2026, with potentially substantial implications for companies like Evoke.