Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MRDN) announced that its subsidiary, Expanse Studios, has signed a content distribution agreement with Casino Portoroz d.d., one of Slovenia's leading gaming operators. This marks Expanse's first operator agreement in Slovenia, allowing its certified titles to be available on Casino.si, the operator's online gaming platform. The agreement follows the certification of Expanse Studios' games for the Slovenian market by Gaming Laboratories International, LLC.
Slovenia's online gaming market is one of Europe's most tightly regulated. The government grants online concessions only to Slovenian-registered companies that already hold land-based concessions, and the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia supervises the market. This structure keeps the number of licensed operators small and mandates per-title certification for every supplier. These conditions raise the cost of entry for content providers but make operator relationships more durable once established.
Casino Portoroz d.d. operates Grand Casino Portoroz, Grand Casino Lipica, and Grand Casino Mons Ljubljana, as well as the Casino.si platform. It was the first holder of a Slovenian online casino concession, and Grand Casino Portoroz, established in 1913, is the oldest casino in Slovenia. This partnership provides Expanse Studios with a strong foothold in a market with high barriers to entry.
Slovenia becomes another EU-regulated market where Expanse Studios holds certified content, following approvals in Malta, Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Latvia. The studio's model combines jurisdiction-level certification with direct operator integrations, where the operator bears the player acquisition cost. Expanding certified distribution across regulated European markets supports Meridian Holdings' strategy of growing 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, Chief Executive Officer 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., stated, “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.”
This entry into Slovenia is significant for Meridian Holdings as it continues to expand its B2B footprint in regulated European markets. By partnering with a century-old operator like Casino Portoroz, Expanse Studios gains access to a loyal customer base and a stable regulatory environment. The deal underscores the company's commitment to compliance and high-quality content, which are essential for long-term growth in the competitive iGaming industry.
For more information about Expanse Studios, visit expanse.studio. For details on Meridian Holdings, visit www.meridian-holdings.com.
