A Very Dark Side To Evolution Gaming

[ritae]

I was playing Crazy Time earlier, and what I thought were trolls in the chat talking about working conditions at Evolution turned out to be a pretty grim discovery when I did some digging.

Thousands of employees at their Georgia studios are on strike over working conditions and pay. Employees have said they are paid as little as $1 (USD) per hour for shuffling cards, with blackjack and roulette croupiers receiving up to $1.80 (USD) per hour.

Employees can receive up to $145 monthly bonus pay, which is forfeited if late or sick. Young women appear to be specifically targeted in this regard if they have menstrual pain or common illnesses such as cystitis.

Several videos have been 'leaked' from inside the studios, including cleaners who eat their meals in the toilets as they have no other place and presenters passed out on the floor from tiredness.

Workers are often under bright lights, with cameras pointed at them for long periods and sit in uncomfortable chairs with little or no air conditioning. Rests are minimal, with set bathroom breaks throughout the shift. Aside from the reported unhygienic bathroom conditions, recent renovation work has meant employees have worked in dust clouds and endured the smell of paint and glue for weeks.

I highly recommend reading the comments left by Evolution's workers on their official Facebook page. Also, Glassdoor provides troubling incident details such as workers dying on-site, NDAs on health and safety, etc.

Links for reference:

Concerns from the Georgian Gambling Association

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Thousands at Georgia’s Major Student Employer Go on Strike

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Evolution's Facebook page (In Georgian, but easy to translate comments)

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Glassdoor

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[SlotsGuy]

Not so long ago a male presenter on the Monopoly game was openly talking about the working conditions for staff. Then quickly they had a changeover with presenters and the next one started complaining about people smoking in the studio and you could literally see the studio fill with cigarette smoke lol.

 

[Guntis]

What Do the Strikers Demand?

- More time for breaks
- Improvement of sanitary and hygienic conditions of the working space
- Safe and comfortable working environment
- Providing healthy food and food stamps in the workplace
- Improvement of the insurance package
- An environment free from discrimination and degrading treatment
- A function for leaving tips for the host and croupier should be added to the game
- Opening a medical center
- Breaks after three tables
- Improvement of temperature conditions in studios
- Increasing the number of lockers for storing things and providing each employee with a personal locker
- Equip monitors with protective screens
- Payment by the employer of the cost of uniform and makeup
- Public catering, refrigerators for storing food, places for changing clothes and rest
- Permission to have napkins on the gaming table
- Doubling pay for working hours on religious and national holidays
- Simplification of the complaint filing system, etc.

According to the Office of the Public Defender, the labor inspectorate has already begun an investigation into the case -

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.

---

By the look of it, they've been working in shit conditions since the start.

I saw this video a few years back and by appearance the dealers to me look Georgians. Some comment the same.

 

[dunover]

Crikey, seems slavery never died out after all.

Surely if any of this breaches UK or EU modern slavery rules then gambling companies in these countries using Evolution would be sanctioned, like Apple, Nike and some other firms have been regarding Chinese labour and working conditions?

edit:
P.S. Would be interested to hear the view of casino reps here whose operations use Evolution feeds?

 

[goatwack]

Exploitative for sure, yet also part of a wider problem with Georgia's economy as a whole by the looks of it.

Then you have a company recruiting students from within a depressed market into their first job, mostly oblivious to what proper working conditions look like. Staff turnover must be enormous, and their length of employment finite, as eager new recruits lie ready in waiting.

Georgia may be striving to implement better working conditions, but change is slow and the problem widespread, prevalent in near enough every other labour sector, something that the July 12th strikes appear to have negligible impact on.

Just a scuzzy company working every available loophole to their advantage in a constant loop.

Couple that with it being a casino of all things, where the croupier/ shuffler/ general dogsbody's 'rights' are and always will be secondary to the customers'.

Still, you'll have companies like this using counter-productive methods that don't even benefit themselves.

No dealer should be dealing more than an hour, an obvious no-no, as concentration levels wane and mistakes are made in a highly pressurized environment, never mind four hours.

Basic provisions are not hard to provide, nor are sanitation amenities or simple break rooms. It's outright greed and short-sightedness on behalf of Evolution Georgia.

I've worked in a casino and these are just prerequisites to even functioning; cut corners and your business flounders. And yet despite all these provisions, I'd still witness veterans collapse from exhaustion!

It's a tough gig, and the buck stops with the Georgian government to clamp down on these practices.

Just don't hold your breath

 

[Guntis]

Saw this one a few years back too. He is in Malta and thinks the job is like heaven..., but he sounds a bit like paid shill, Lol

 

[goatwack]

Holy crap, he's really selling it. Sounds awesome!

It's clear that shilling on this scale does indeed attract attention, as one look at the YT comments section indicates, including many overseas students looking for work.

I don't think recruitment is a problem for them, despite the blatant 'omissions'

 

[Kroffe]

Crikey, seems slavery never died out after all.

Surely if any of this breaches UK or EU modern slavery rules then gambling companies in these countries using Evolution would be sanctioned, like Apple, Nike and some other firms have been regarding Chinese labour and working conditions?

edit:
P.S. Would be interested to hear the view of casino reps here whose operations use Evolution feeds?

Please note that its no longer allowed in England, it was abolished ages ago....or like, a while ago at least.

 

[snorky510238]

Like it or lump it if you work for the “mafia” of Conline gambling. Why would you expect to be treated well, if you work for a bunch of crooks?

 

[goatwack]

Like it or lump it if you work for the “mafia” of Conline gambling. Why would you expect to be treated well, if you work for a bunch of crooks?

Come on, don't deny it Snorky. You've been building up to that reveal, haven't you.

'Conline gambling'

 

[PMKFRUITPRO]

Bang goes the evolution rep!!

 

[Jono777]

Bang goes the evolution rep!!

Another perk of the job once the underpaid workers come off screen ????

 

[snorky510238]

Come on, don't deny it Snorky. You've been building up to that reveal, haven't you.

'Conline gambling'

I think it’s a title that is much more befitting and perfectly describes the experience.

There’s only a couple of diehard stalwarts left. Other than that, I think the vast majority of the forum now realise that it is a complete load of manipulated bollox.

 

[Jono777]

I think it’s a title that is much more befitting and perfectly describes the experience.

There’s only a couple of diehard stalwarts left. Other than that, I think the vast majority of the forum now realise that it is a complete load of manipulated bollox.

From a not too distant future press release

"The online gaming industry took a while but eventually realised around 2017/2018 that they could increase their profits ten fold by simply switching their previous strategies to those of Conline Gaining"

 

[megadam]

So when they eventually create Bonanza Live is it going to be a race between when the D drops or when the dealer drops? (Defo wouldn't want that job.....)

In all seriousness, industry needs to take a hard look at themselves regarding how big and integrated one gambling company is now. Who's regulating whether the math models, working practices or anything that they are doing is fair and reasonable?

 

[Guntis]

It's simple, the money is regulating everything.

 

[snorky510238]

It's simple, the money is regulating everything.

Yep! Pay the man at the top enough and anything is possible.

 

[andysbetting1187]

On the flip side of this, if evolution invest and pay people a decent wage and provide decent staff facilities, how many people would moan if they offset this cost by lowering RTP on more games?

Genuine question. They could easily afford it, but if they passed the cost onto the customer would people keep things as they are or be happy with a lower RTP

 

[snorky510238]

On the flip side of this, if evolution invest and pay people a decent wage and provide decent staff facilities, how many people would moan if they offset this cost by lowering RTP on more games?

Genuine question. They could easily afford it, but if they passed the cost onto the customer would people keep things as they are or be happy with a lower RTP

I very much doubt that they’re surviving on a shoestring.

 

[andysbetting1187]

I very much doubt that they’re surviving on a shoestring.

Neither are any of the big companies bothe inside and outside of gambling but its always the consumer that gets fleeced

 

[SlotsGuy]

Please note that its no longer allowed in England, it was abolished ages ago....or like, a while ago at least.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely puppets..". We're someone's or some "thing's" sick entertainment, s*xslaves, wage slaves, useless consumers, brainwashed zombies, and FOOD! Until we wake up, and unite against our common enemy.

So in essence:

SLAVE
We are all slaves
We are slaves to the life we have given ourselves
We are slaves to work
We are slaves to pleasure
We are slaves to what they will say.
Life is an slavery with a touch of freedom.

Welcome to the free range tax farm people. Enjoy your stay.

 

[megadam]

On the flip side of this, if evolution invest and pay people a decent wage and provide decent staff facilities, how many people would moan if they offset this cost by lowering RTP on more games?

Genuine question. They could easily afford it, but if they passed the cost onto the customer would people keep things as they are or be happy with a lower RTP

Except they've already done this? Why do you think BTG's that have already been at 96% and higher were that way and since they've been bought out by Evo they now have a variable math model where all of the typical casinos are now stocking them at 94% and below. Same with NLC. That's the worst part about this situation, they've screwed their employees and their customer. Double jeopardy.

 

[pinktriangle]

Saw this one a few years back too. He is in Malta and thinks the job is like heaven..., but he sounds a bit like paid shill, Lol

Totally different companies mate. There's no reason that a well managed gaming operation such as this couldn't offer a workplace with staff perks etc like the one described in the video.

 

[Guntis]

Totally different companies mate. There's no reason that a well managed gaming operation such as this couldn't offer a workplace with staff perks etc like the one described in the video.

Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic, and even others - easily. Food, gym, kitchen, etc costs nothing for them.

Everytime you blink the money pours in their bank accounts like shite anyway. But see how Evolution takes piss ouy of people based on their location. Canada, Latvia, Malta have better wage that those in Georgia.

That guy from the video was making all look too sweet anyway.

"They take you to work and bring you back home, you don't have to worry about buses", lol

He was paid for finding people. At the video end he mentioned that the link is in the description, ect.

 

[steveh35]

Interesting situation in Crazy Time today, the wheel landed on Pachinko and the host accidentally entered the wrong result, immediately realising she contacted the supervisor but the next round triggered by the time the supervisor had arrived on the intercom, Instead of going back and starting Pachinko the supervisor told the host to spin the wheel and it landed on a 1.

Needless to say players were rightly outraged but to no avail the result was confirmed as a 1 and no refunds were given, the supervisor appeared not to go and watch the video back to check and the game was not void.

I wonder what the rules are in this situation and in a computerised world why the host has to enter the result manually why is it not triggered automically.

I suspect if the host had enetered a 50x Crazy Time by accident they would soon have voided the game.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Interesting situation in Crazy Time today, the wheel landed on Pachinko and the host accidentally entered the wrong result, immediately realising she contacted the supervisor but the next round triggered by the time the supervisor had arrived on the intercom, Instead of going back and starting Pachinko the supervisor told the host to spin the wheel and it landed on a 1.

Needless to say players were rightly outraged but to no avail the result was confirmed as a 1 and no refunds were given, the supervisor appeared not to go and watch the video back to check and the game was not void.

I wonder what the rules are in this situation and in a computerised world why the host has to enter the result manually why is it not triggered automically.

I suspect if the host had enetered a 50x Crazy Time by accident they would soon have voided the game.

Pfew, not affected, immediately went to check the customer interaction log.

 

[Guntis]

The UKGC doesn't like of Evolution offering games on sites that are open to UK players without a license:

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.

They've taken the games down from that site, according to some sources.

 

[dunover]

The UKGC doesn't like of Evolution offering games on sites that are open to UK players without a license:

View attachment 204221

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.

They've taken the games down from that site, according to some sources.

Hope Pragmatic are reading it.

 

[Guntis]

Hope Pragmatic are reading it.

It's a new thing apparently and i've seen it on Lithuania's regulator site at

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earlier. They sent a message to game providers about, as they say, possible cooperation with unlicensed operators. Imagine if regulators across all countries indroduce something like "if you got a licence in our country you must make sure your games aren't available here on sites without a license from us, etc" What's will be left on sites like BC Game then, some of their own games, some very small providers, and maybe draughts?

 

[steveh35]

Can anyone answer why on Crazy Time you get your stake back if you win but on Crazy Balls you don't.

Are there any particular rules regarding the return of your stake on a win?

 

[Reelsoffun]

If it is listed in the game rules then yes its fine. From a game point of view its a way to make the odds look slightly better than they really are, think of it the same as some side bets that pay "for one" rather than "to one"

While its not over common, on some games it is the way the pay outs work and is completely within the rules if specified within them. Bingo is another example of when you win you don't get your winning card stake back on top.

 

[mulven]

If it is listed in the game rules then yes its fine. From a game point of view its a way to make the odds look slightly better than they really are, think of it the same as some side bets that pay "for one" rather than "to one"

While its not over common, on some games it is the way the pay outs work and is completely within the rules if specified within them. Bingo is another example of when you win you don't get your winning card stake back on top.

And perhaps in this game they had to take the RTP from somewhere to fit in a new feature or add higher volatility to one so they took it from the included stake.

 

[slaman29]

I didn't see this thread until now. was aware of working condition complaints, didn't know it was in Georgia. Evo has been one of my personal gotos for BJ especially where I used to play but the people all said they were Latvian, and seemed pretty cheerful and happy. A couple I spoke to also said they could do worse, the jobbers are usually partimers who are studying or sidehustling while doing real job. Guess it's not the same in Georgia, but never saw those guys there.

Really hope things changed/improved. Does anyone know where to find updates? My Google skills not great ......

 

[steveh35]

I didn't see this thread until now. was aware of working condition complaints, didn't know it was in Georgia. Evo has been one of my personal gotos for BJ especially where I used to play but the people all said they were Latvian, and seemed pretty cheerful and happy. A couple I spoke to also said they could do worse, the jobbers are usually partimers who are studying or sidehustling while doing real job. Guess it's not the same in Georgia, but never saw those guys there.

Really hope things changed/improved. Does anyone know where to find updates? My Google skills not great ......

I believe Georgia is not a live base, I think it has people like chat moderators and maybe some business side of Evolution. The main live ones are Latvia and Lithuania. So working conditions maybe different in Georgia if it is a backroom facility.

 

[steveh35]

Yet another cock up tonight this time on Crazy Balls, the balls didn't reset into the bowl and they played the game with previous 20 balls still in the tube, and the host didn't notice until the end, she saw 40 balls in the tube but looked confused and carried on with the next game.

 

[sufferinsilence]

I didn't see this thread until now. was aware of working condition complaints, didn't know it was in Georgia. Evo has been one of my personal gotos for BJ especially where I used to play but the people all said they were Latvian, and seemed pretty cheerful and happy. A couple I spoke to also said they could do worse, the jobbers are usually partimers who are studying or sidehustling while doing real job. Guess it's not the same in Georgia, but never saw those guys there.

Really hope things changed/improved. Does anyone know where to find updates? My Google skills not great ......

I've played a lot of Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Videopoker Live over the past months and the hosts are always tired. There have been instances when a game was "on pause" for a couple of minutes until the host woke up to start dealing again... Now, I understand that especially the Videopoker game is quite boring for them but I don't think there has been a lot of improvement.

 

[slaman29]

I've played a lot of Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Videopoker Live over the past months and the hosts are always tired. There have been instances when a game was "on pause" for a couple of minutes until the host woke up to start dealing again... Now, I understand that especially the Videopoker game is quite boring for them but I don't think there has been a lot of improvement.

I keep seeing posts like these and myself never seen it. Have seen yawning dealers, but I would be yawning 30 mins into the job anyway

I believe Georgia is not a live base, I think it has people like chat moderators and maybe some business side of Evolution. The main live ones are Latvia and Lithuania. So working conditions maybe different in Georgia if it is a backroom facility.

Yeah Latvia is where I see all of them, and they are happy to talk and tell me a lot about their building, their shifts, and they banter with others a lot there, so I dunno, it always seemed fine to me. I guess I never got to see the Georgia operations but the Latvia ones always seemed very okay. They would even say, 'yeah come over and work here too, take the night shift, the guys here are way more fun' and there were sessions where the next dealer takes over and continues the chat because he was across the table and listening and chiming in.

 

[steveh35]

Interesting this morning again the balls didn't empty the tube and they played a game on Crazy Balls which was illegal, I thought they were supposed to monitor the games 24/7.

A host got a bit carried away this morning and went on a rant about the "Gods" watching over the hosts and how some things they have said were being monitored by the "Gods" and that a number of hosts in Lithuania had been sacked for comments made during the games after the chat people started pushing her to reveal more, she also started saying she hates men, she suddenly went all shy and said she couldn't talk about it. I suspect she may not grace the live games for much longer.

A bit stupid if you have been told watch what you say to suddenly start shooting your mouth off about the exact subject.

 

[slaman29]

A bit stupid if you have been told watch what you say to suddenly start shooting your mouth off about the exact subject.

Once the fear sets in, irrationality also affects behavior. I would be taking evidence of this to report already, to be honest. Even if its my favorite provider, if I saw it, I think would be upset

 

[steveh35]

I feel sorry for the Indian host on Crazy Time the other day someone in chat asked him if he smelled of curry and today they asking him if he shakes his head like Indian men do.

To be fair the host takes it

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but in this day and age he could probably sue Evolution for racism at work

 

[mulven]

I feel sorry for the Indian host on Crazy Time the other day someone in chat asked him if he smelled of curry and today they asking him if he shakes his head like Indian men do.

To be fair the host takes it

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but in this day and age he could probably sue Evolution for racism at work

I feel like legally they'll be covered due to some document the employees signed as part of getting hired.

Something along the lines of having no liability for what 3rd party users of their platform communicate.

 

[slaman29]

I feel like legally they'll be covered due to some document the employees signed as part of getting hired.

Something along the lines of having no liability for what 3rd party users of their platform communicate.

Unfortunately I think mulven is right. But I know even in this kind of coverage in a good country you would still sue if the provider doesn't take steps to moderate and ban or restrict bad behavior from the players. So much racist and sexist chat going on, if I was a groupier I would have raged so much.

 

[steveh35]

Today one of the hosts on Crazy Balls, burst into tears and was visibly holding her hand over her face for a few minutes, a "manager", not dressed in Crazy Balls uniform came in while she ran off and then another host appeared a couple of minutes later and said he wasn't supposed to be there and when people asked what happened to her he just said "she was having a bad day" and the next host said she is a little better.

Evolution need to do something about chat moderation people in the chat were saying "she is pregnant", is she pregnant" etc I am not sure if the chat upset her but it's not nice to watch someone burst into tears, for some reason they give some of the Crazy Balls sessions as a double shift and some hosts really don't seem to cope with the bonus rounds appearing so rarely and a lot of yawning and what shall i do now nothing is happening.

I think Evolution have moved to AI moderation on some games and it really needs someone to moderate it live.

 

[slaman29]

Evolution need to do something about chat moderation people in the chat were saying "she is pregnant", is she pregnant" etc I am not sure if the chat upset her but it's not nice to watch someone burst into tears, for some reason they give some of the Crazy Balls sessions as a double shift and some hosts really don't seem to cope with the bonus rounds appearing so rarely and a lot of yawning and what shall i do now nothing is happening.

I think Evolution have moved to AI moderation on some games and it really needs someone to moderate it live.

I still saw recently something like last week, the usual shit from chatters, either being super sexist or super asshole. Usually on the lightning places, every time there's a long streak. 15 reds or something when I was on roulette and they were abusing the host who was very chill about it but obviously flustered after a while.

Then on the Crazy Time you know the host has to dance and make a show, and the chatters go crazy saying stuff thats 100% harassment. I like the chat, tbh, but I think in the end if its not moderated, then I'd rather it be gone, for the hosts sake.

 

[Glunn11]

I've played a lot of Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Videopoker Live over the past months and the hosts are always tired. There have been instances when a game was "on pause" for a couple of minutes until the host woke up to start dealing again... Now, I understand that especially the Videopoker game is quite boring for them but I don't think there has been a lot of improvement.

I hate how the only video poker online anymore is Evolution's. It's comically awful as a live table game, and looking at the win log after each round, there's no way they're even making profit on this game. The biggest win is usually like $1.90 lol: the only folks playing it are the lowest of low rollers.

And I've never done well on it, so that grinds my gears too. I had one too many "no winning hands" on 10-hand with held low pairs; I won't touch it anymore.

I miss Bitzino and Bitcoin Video Casino: I'm pretty sure they both up and disappeared? But they both had wonderful full-pay housebuilt VP. I am particularly fond of the latter's because it is still the biggest win I've ever had: a JoB royal at a $30 bet. Got my money in seconds, too. Those were the days...

 

[neilw]

I hate how the only video poker online anymore is Evolution's. It's comically awful as a live table game, and looking at the win log after each round, there's no way they're even making profit on this game. The biggest win is usually like $1.90 lol: the only folks playing it are the lowest of low rollers.

And I've never done well on it, so that grinds my gears too. I had one too many "no winning hands" on 10-hand with held low pairs; I won't touch it anymore.

I miss Bitzino and Bitcoin Video Casino: I'm pretty sure they both up and disappeared? But they both had wonderful full-pay housebuilt VP. I am particularly fond of the latter's because it is still the biggest win I've ever had: a JoB royal at a $30 bet. Got my money in seconds, too. Those were the days...

Playtech also have Live Video Poker, and it's a better game imo.

 

[sufferinsilence]

Playtech also have Live Video Poker, and it's a better game imo.

Who wants to be a millionaire live VP you mean? That's the only one I see.

 

[Qwarsin]

I was playing Crazy Time earlier, and what I thought were trolls in the chat talking about working conditions at Evolution turned out to be a pretty grim discovery when I did some digging.

Thousands of employees at their Georgia studios are on strike over working conditions and pay. Employees have said they are paid as little as $1 (USD) per hour for shuffling cards, with blackjack and roulette croupiers receiving up to $1.80 (USD) per hour.

Employees can receive up to $145 monthly bonus pay, which is forfeited if late or sick. Young women appear to be specifically targeted in this regard if they have menstrual pain or common illnesses such as cystitis.

Several videos have been 'leaked' from inside the studios, including cleaners who eat their meals in the toilets as they have no other place and presenters passed out on the floor from tiredness.

Workers are often under bright lights, with cameras pointed at them for long periods and sit in uncomfortable chairs with little or no air conditioning. Rests are minimal, with set bathroom breaks throughout the shift. Aside from the reported unhygienic bathroom conditions, recent renovation work has meant employees have worked in dust clouds and endured the smell of paint and glue for weeks.

I highly recommend reading the comments left by Evolution's workers on their official Facebook page. Also, Glassdoor provides troubling incident details such as workers dying on-site, NDAs on health and safety, etc.

Links for reference:

Concerns from the Georgian Gambling Association

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Thousands at Georgia’s Major Student Employer Go on Strike

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Evolution's Facebook page (In Georgian, but easy to translate comments)

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Glassdoor

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And from the looks of it, everyone in CT looks happy, but apparently it's just a picture. We need to look deeper into this.

 

[TheAddict]

It's so sad that this vile, dogshit company is dominating such massive chunks of the online gaming industry.

 

[Jono777]

It's so sad that this vile, dogshit company is dominating such massive chunks of the online gaming industry.

Spot on mate.

You tried their "new" DoA yet, beyond awful (regardless of payouts) and feels like a completely different game....again