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Evoke tells Nevada board it has fixed lapses after prolonged compliance audit; board keeps watch
Summary
Evoke PLC representatives told the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Oct. 8 that the company has repaired prior delays and record-keeping lapses in a global compliance audit, but board members warned the improvements must be sustained and placed approvals under ongoing monitoring.
Evoke PLC, the global owner of several online brands (including 888 and William Hill operations in some markets), appeared before the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Oct. 8 to update regulators after a prolonged compliance audit that uncovered delays in providing requested materials.
In a near two-hour presentation, Harinder Gill, Evoke’s chief risk and intelligent automation officer, and other senior compliance officials described the company’s global compliance structure and recent changes: a three‑lines‑of‑defense model, an AI committee to monitor emerging technology risks, stronger anti‑money‑laundering (AML) screening and a centralized procurement process designed to tighten third‑party diligence. Gill said the company operates compliance centers across multiple jurisdictions and has embedded local/regional compliance teams to meet market‑specific rules.
“You have our personal commitment that we will meet regulatory expectations,” Gill told the board, listing new governance committees, enhanced KYC and sanctions screening, and expanded third‑party documentation. Laura Bird, Evoke’s U.S. director of compliance, added that the company had produced requested documents, hosted agent interviews in London and provided materials the agency had asked for since August.
Board members pressed repeatedly about an earlier breakdown in responsiveness to Nevada agents that lengthened the audit and raised concerns about transparency. Chairman Dreiser and Member Sandahl pointed to episodes when agents sought documents and could not get timely participation. Judge Assad described the agency’s investigators as “the best people I’ve ever worked with,” and said he had been “outraged” when he read the initial agent reports.
Evoke’s presenters acknowledged shortcomings and said the problems were not deliberate. “We have not had deliberate obfuscation,” Gill said, adding that improved internal communications and executive engagement had moved the company to a better place. The company provided agents with on‑site interviews, multiple document submissions and an ongoing audit schedule the presenters said agents expected to complete by year end.
After the exchange, the board voted to recommend approval of the Evoke‑related licensing item but attached heightened expectations: continued cooperation with Nevada agents, monitoring of the company’s remediation steps, and administrative reporting on outstanding audit items. Several members said the recommendation was conditioned on close follow‑up: “We accept the improvement, and we expect it to continue,” Chair Dreiser said.
What’s next: The agents will complete their remaining audit work and report follow‑up findings to the board; the company is required to keep regulators promptly informed of any further compliance exceptions and to provide additional documentation as requested.
