Evolution to Slash NetEnt’s Workforce by 500
December 4, 2020
NetEnt AB is currently paying the human price for acquisition as hundreds of employees risk losing their jobs due to Evolution Gaming’s restructuring efforts. According to The Times of Malta, Evolution decided to shut down NetEnt’s Qormi studio barely three months after opening, leaving hundreds of staff in the dark.
The publication claims the employees were asked to stay at home and wait for official communication about what their future holds. The latest reports from EGR Intel’s Jake Evans claims that between 300 and 500 of NetEnt’s workers have been laid off.
“Multiple reports have come in claiming Evolution Gaming laid off nearly 500 of NetEnt’s employees within 10 minutes of its first meeting as the new owners of the brand. Evolution swiftly took down NetEnt Live services despite its portfolio remaining active with multiple operators”, Jake added.
The Government Plan of Action
The initial report lines up with The Times of Malta’s claim and Evolution Gaming’s comments on the Qormi-based studio losing a sizeable chunk of its workforce. Additional rumours claim Evolution didn’t require NetEnt’s Live casino services as the former has its own platform for the task.
Malta’s Ministry for the Economy, Investment, and Small Business was prepared for such an outcome. Its official statement reads, “While noting the strong commitment of Evolution Gaming to its Maltese operation, the government has commenced discussions with every entity involved to find a way around the situation with immediate effect”.
The Ministry is working closely with all the employees potentially at the risk of losing their jobs and has asked people to sign up on the JobsPlus platform, which aims to connect skilled labour with the employees. The authorities also claimed that there should be plenty of opportunities for NetEnt’s ex-employees as jobs in the field are readily available.
