Dead Canary

How to play Dead Canary

The case dates back to 2020 when Playtech allegedly engaged Black Cube to conduct an investigation into Evolution’s activities in prohibited and unlicensed markets. 

The investigation, which included secretly recorded interviews and conversations with Evolution staff members and other whistleblowers, was followed up with a damning report accusing the supplier of knowingly providing its services in sanctioned jurisdictions.

In April, court documents showed that Evolution had sought to add Playtech to the case.

How to play Dead Canary

The company experienced rapid expansion prior to its collapse, with its loan book reaching approximately £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) by the end of 2024. Its creditors included major international financial institutions and private equity firms.

In March, courts in London and Dubai imposed a worldwide freezing order on Raja’s assets up to £1.3 billion.

The order requires Raja to disclose assets worth more than £10,000 ($13,000) and limits his personal spending to no more than £5,000 ($6,700) per week without explicit consent from MFS administrators.

What is Dead Canary?

There is a second complication. The relentless flow of Commission statements may eventually make enforcement less damaging rather than more.

“The regulatory failures are unhelpful but perhaps the sheer number and regularity of them has made them less remarkable, such that they become ‘wallpaper’,” Waugh says.

He argues that some lawyers and licensees believe the Commission’s presentation of cases is detached from the operational reality but feel they have little option other than to accept the “regulator’s truth” when settling.