Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MRDN) announced today 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 platform. The agreement follows the certification of Expanse's games for the Slovenian market by Gaming Laboratories International, LLC.
Slovenia's online gaming market is among the most tightly regulated in Europe. 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, raising the cost of entry and making 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 adds Slovenia to the list of EU-regulated markets where Expanse holds certified content, following approvals in Malta, Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Latvia. The studio's model focuses on jurisdiction-level certification and direct operator integrations, with player acquisition costs borne by the operator.
“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., added, “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 expansion supports Meridian Holdings' strategy of growing B2B revenue alongside its B2C operations, leveraging Expanse's portfolio of over 80 proprietary titles. The agreement underscores the importance of regulatory compliance and certified content in accessing new markets, and it strengthens Expanse's position in Europe's regulated gaming landscape. For more information, visit Meridian Holdings or Expanse Studios.
