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, and its certified titles will be available on Casino.si, the operator's online gaming platform. The agreement follows the certification of Expanse titles 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 a land-based concession, and the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia supervises the market. This structure limits the number of licensed operators and requires mandatory per-title certification for every supplier, raising the cost of entry and making operator relationships durable once established.
Casino Portoroz d.d. operates Grand Casino Portoroz, Grand Casino Lipica, and Grand Casino Mons Ljubljana, as well as Casino.si. The company was the first holder of a Slovenian online casino concession, and Grand Casino Portoroz, founded in 1913, is the oldest casino in Slovenia.
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, with player acquisition costs borne by the operator rather than the supplier. This expansion aligns with Meridian Holdings' strategy to grow 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., 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 strategic move not only strengthens Expanse's presence in Europe but also highlights the growing importance of regulated market entry in the iGaming industry. By securing a foothold in Slovenia's exclusive market, Expanse is positioning itself for sustained growth and long-term partnerships, which could serve as a model for future expansions into other regulated jurisdictions.
