Evolution Fined $12K for Dealer Errors in New Jersey Live Games

New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement has penalized live dealer technology provider Evolution after a series of dealer mistakes at its Atlantic City studios. The agency announced a $12,000 fine against the company following multiple incidents between 2021 and 2023 that regulators determined violated state rules governing table games.

Blackjack and Roulette Missteps

One of the earliest cases dated back to June 15, 2021, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, where a blackjack dealer failed to deal himself a card during the initial hand. According to the enforcement division’s report, the dealer distributed cards to four player spots but skipped his own before proceeding with a second round. When the mistake was noticed, the staff attempted to fix the issue by moving the cards back one spot. However, regulations required that the cards remain in place and that the dealer receive an additional card instead. The dealer in question was issued written disciplinary action.

Another blackjack incident took place on January 6, 2023, also at the Hard Rock studio. For more than 26 hours, a table layout displayed the wrong house rules, stating “Dealer must stand on 17 and must draw on 16,” instead of the correct instruction, “Dealer must hit soft 17.” As a result, “Evolution’s dealer continuously drew additional cards to the dealer hand when the dealer had a soft 17, in contradiction to the rules that were displayed on the table,” regulators noted. Despite the significant error, the employees involved were not disciplined.

Roulette games also came under scrutiny. On March 23, 2023, dealers were required to re-spin balls repeatedly because they were failing to make the minimum four revolutions around the wheel. Five dealers later told investigators they did not know the rule required at least four spins. None of them received disciplinary action.

Perhaps the most striking incident occurred on September 19, 2023, at the Ocean Casino Resort studio. Two blackjack decks were missing a total of five cards, and 438 rounds of play went forward over 16 hours before the error was identified. Despite the scale of the mistake, no disciplinary measures were issued against the dealers involved.

Regulators Cite “Impermissible” Failures

In documents made public earlier this month, interim director Mary Jo Flaherty of the Division of Gaming Enforcement wrote that “The failures of Evolution’s dealers and managerial staff to ensure proper dealing of table games resulted in numerous violations.” Regulators classified the mistakes as “impermissible,” leading to the $12,000 penalty.

When asked about the fine, Lloyd Levenson, serving as legal counsel for Evolution, declined to comment.

Broader Enforcement Actions

Alongside the Evolution penalty, state regulators disclosed other enforcement measures. More than $186,000 in winnings were forfeited after being claimed by individuals who were either under the legal gambling age of 21 or had placed themselves on self-exclusion lists.

Under New Jersey law, any forfeited total exceeding $100,000 must be divided, with $50,000 allocated to the state’s general fund to support compulsive gambling treatment and prevention programs. The remainder goes into the Casino Revenue Fund, which provides assistance for seniors and people with disabilities.

Spotlight on Compliance in Live Dealer Games

The fine underscores the regulatory challenges surrounding live dealer casino technology, where human errors can directly impact game outcomes. Evolution, one of the largest providers in the live casino space, operates studios across multiple jurisdictions, and the New Jersey findings highlight how strict oversight continues to shape standards for both operators and players.

Source:

“Blackjack dealers not playing with a full deck: N.J. fines gambling company for game errors“, pressofatlanticcity.com, August 18, 2025