Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MRDN) announced that its subsidiary Expanse Studios has entered into a content distribution agreement with Casino Portoroz d.d., one of Slovenia's leading gaming operators. This marks Expanse Studios' first operator agreement in Slovenia and will see its certified titles available on Casino.si, the operator's online platform.
The agreement follows the certification of Expanse Studios' games for the Slovenian market by Gaming Laboratories International, LLC. Slovenia's regulatory environment is among Europe's most stringent, requiring online concessions only for Slovenian-registered companies that already hold land-based concessions, with oversight from the Financial Administration. This structure limits the number of licensed operators and mandates certification for each supplier, raising entry costs but fostering long-lasting operator relationships.
Casino Portoroz d.d., the first holder of a Slovenian online casino concession, operates Grand Casino Portoroz, Grand Casino Lipica, and Grand Casino Mons Ljubljana, as well as Casino.si. Grand Casino Portoroz, established in 1913, is Slovenia's oldest casino. The company's history and market position make this partnership a significant milestone for Expanse Studios.
This expansion adds Slovenia to Expanse Studios' growing list of EU-regulated markets, which already includes Malta, Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Latvia. The studio's business model pairs jurisdiction-level certification with direct operator integrations, with player acquisition costs borne by the operator. This strategy supports Meridian Holdings' goal of increasing B2B revenue alongside its B2C operations.
“Slovenia is a closed market with a demanding certification process, which is exactly why we deemed it worth entering,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios. “Casino Portoroz has been in this business for more than a century and holds one of the hardest positions to obtain in European online gaming. Starting there sets the standard for how we build in this market.”
Ksenija Bezek, Head of Online Operations at Casino Portoroz d.d., commented, “We are delighted to welcome Expanse Studios to Casino.si as they enter the Slovenian market. Their commitment to certification and regulated operations aligns closely with our focus on providing Slovenian players with a safe, reliable and high-quality gaming experience. With a diverse portfolio spanning slots, strategy titles and roulette games, Expanse brings valuable new content to our platform. We look forward to building a successful, long-term partnership together.”
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings, specializes in slots, crash games, turn-based strategies, and card games, distributing over 80 proprietary titles across Europe, Latin America, and North America. The company's certifications in multiple regulated jurisdictions underscore its commitment to compliance. Meridian Holdings, headquartered in Las Vegas, operates in over 25 regulated markets through its B2C division, Meridianbet Group, and its B2B division, which includes Expanse Studios and GMAG platform.
This agreement not only diversifies Expanse Studios' market presence but also positions it strategically in a market where entry is challenging but profitable. For Meridian Holdings, it reinforces a focus on regulated markets, potentially leading to stable revenue streams and enhanced shareholder value. As the partnership develops, players in Slovenia will gain access to a broader array of certified gaming content, while Expanse Studios strengthens its foothold in the European iGaming landscape.
