The Michigan studio will broadcast games to Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino, and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino.

It includes five blackjack tables (one reserved for VIPs), one roulette table, and one baccarat table. All tables feature custom-branded felts featuring iconic Caesars destinations and each online casino platform.

Select tables also feature custom felts co-branded through partnerships with professional sports teams.

In a press release, Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital, said:

“Our third live dealer studio expands our fully customized live dealer experience that is already extremely popular in Pennsylvania and New Jersey into another key jurisdiction where our online casino platforms are live.”

“The studio design takes inspiration from our flagship destination, Caesars Palace, to authentically recreate the atmosphere of Las Vegas for online players. We look forward to our Michigan players enjoying the new experience.”

Caesars’ Bespoke Game Strategy Continues to Grow

The branded live dealer studio marks another step in the company’s strategy of expanding its library with Caesars-branded content.

The operator unveiled its first bespoke game, Caesars Cleopatra, in August 2023, shortly after introducing its Caesars Palace Online Casino standalone app. The standalone casino’s goal was to deliver a better product, which would help the company gain a higher market share. To achieve that, Caesars employed a branded game strategy.

Since then, it has unveiled over a dozen bespoke games, including slots like:

• Caesars Palace
• Caesars Palace Megaways
• Caesars Cleopatra
• Caesars Fortune
• Caesars Emperors Gold
• Caesars Palace Garden of the Gods
• Caesars Palace Frenzy

Additional games include Caesars Palace Riches LuckyTap, Caesars Palace Slingo, Caesars Palace first-person blackjack, and the live dealer table games.

Branded Content Strategy Drives Market Share Gains

The bespoke product strategy has helped Caesars achieve some of the standalone app’s goals. In Michigan, the platform held a 4.5% market share in July 2023, a month before the debut of Caesars Cleopatra. That placed it in sixth spot out of 15 operators in the state.

A year later, in July 2024, Caesars Palace Online Casino’s market share had climbed to 6.3%, moving up one spot.

The latest data from Michigan shows that in May 2025, online casinos generated $251.5 million in gross gaming revenue, with Caesars Palace Online Casino capturing a 6.6% market share. While still in fifth place, it’s narrowing the gap to the fourth-placed BetRivers Casino, which had just over 7% market share.

A similar scenario is unfolding in New Jersey. For May, when online casinos generated $246.8 million in gross gaming revenue, Caesars Palace Online Casino captured a 7.3% market share. Caesar’s market share is nearly one percent higher than May 2024, when it held a 6.4% market share.

The post Caesars Expands Michigan Presence With New Branded Live Dealer Studio appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Senate Bill 1017, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, aims to keep jobs and gaming revenue within the state. At the same time, positioning Rhode Island as a hub for live streaming casino games.

However, a critical question remains: who can Rhode Island stream to?

Most iGaming States Require In-State Studios

Currently, most states that allow live dealer online casino games require the games to be streamed from studios located within their state borders. Those states include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut.

That requirement aims to create local jobs while ensuring regulatory oversight. For example, Evolution operates studios in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and inside the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut.

The two states that do not require in-state studios are West Virginia and Delaware. The Mountain State streams from Pennsylvania, while Delaware streams from New Jersey.

As the two have already established relationships and existing setups, it’s unlikely that they seek new out-of-state partners.

Where Will Rhode Island Find Streaming Partners?

While Rhode Island can now stream live dealer games beyond state lines, it’s unknown whether Delaware or West Virginia casinos will be interested. If the state gets Evolution, the global leader in live dealer casino games, involved, there could be a better chance.

Evolution recently entered Rhode Island through a partnership with Bally Casino. However, that deal includes only slots, not live dealer games.

Still, if the partnership expands to live dealer games and the cost to stream is reduced compared to other setups, Rhode Island could successfully partner with Delaware or West Virginia online casinos.

It’s also important to note that the new law permits international streaming to markets where the law allows it. Unlike the US, many countries do not require casino game streaming to be within their borders.

However, entering these markets will require local licensing, partnerships, and compliance with each country’s gaming laws. Evolution’s global presence could simplify this expansion if it begins operating live dealer studios in Rhode Island.

Ciccone Also Attempted to Change RI’s Sports Betting Model

While Senator Ciccone’s effort to expand virtual gaming was successful, his separate proposal to reform Rhode Island’s sports betting system failed last month.

Earlier this year, the Senate Majority Leader introduced legislation to expand the current one-operator system to a multi-license system with up to five operators. That effort aligned with a Spectrum Gaming Group report that recommended Rhode Island expand to up to six operators.

The Senate passed Ciccone’s bill, SB 748, with a 30-3 vote in early June. However, once it reached the House, it never received a committee hearing.

The lack of action was unsurprising to many. In May, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi indicated that he won’t discuss market expansion in 2025. The House Speaker’s refusal is because the contract of IGT, the operator of Sportsbook Rhode Island, does not expire until next year.

The post Rhode Island Expands Live Casino Game Streams Beyond State Borders — But Who Can They Stream To? appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Evolution is now live with its online slots on Bally’s platform in Rhode Island, featuring titles from NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming. This provides Bally Casino players with access to games already available in other regulated markets.

The deal also sees the company running live dealer Blackjack tables in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Evolution now has a live presence in all seven U.S. states where online casino games are currently legal: Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, and Connecticut.

In a press release, Jacob Claesson, CEO of Evolution North America, commented: “This agreement represents a significant step forward for both Evolution and Bally’s Corporation. 

“We’re thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Bally’s by delivering world-class gaming experiences and extend our reach into Rhode Island, a first for Evolution. This partnership showcases our shared commitment to driving innovation and providing exceptional entertainment for players.”

Evolution Joins Bally’s Exclusive Deal In Rhode Island 

Rhode Island granted Bally’s exclusive rights to operate iGaming in June 2023. Bally Casino initially partnered with Stakelogic to run its live casino games, which was seen as a cost-effective option. The deal with Bally’s marked Stakelogic’s first venture into the US casino space.

Bally Casino is limited to games that already exist in the state’s casinos, which include slots and live dealer table games. 

If the state wanted to introduce new games, a referendum would be required under its gambling laws.

Evolution has extensive experience in online casinos across global markets. A partnership with EveryMatrix, signed earlier this year, expanded the company’s presence in the US market. 

What Games Will the Deal Bring to Rhode Island?

While the new partnership won’t include Evolution’s live dealer games, the company’s slot subsidiaries, NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming, produce some of the most popular slots across US online casinos. 

NetEnt produces two of the most frequented progressive jackpot slots, Divine Fortune and Mercy of the Gods. Another player favorite by the company is the Starburst slot. Other player favorites include: 

• Bloodsuckers
• Dead or Alive
• Fruit Shop
• Gonzo’s Quest
• Jungle Spirit
• Mega Fortune

Big Time Gaming is the creator of the super popular Megaways mechanic. The company does not produce all Megaways slots; instead, it licenses the name and mechanics to other studios, including other Evolution subsidiaries. 

While arguably not as famous as NetEnt, Red Tiger also creates many popular slots. Some examples include the 777 Strike, Astronaut, Cash Volt, Egypt Megaways, and Alexander the Great.

Red Tiger also supplies daily timed jackpots in some states, such as New Jersey, which could eventually be introduced to Rhode Island as well. 

While unconfirmed, other titles that could eventually come to Rhode Island include the edgy and urban-style slots by NoLimitCity. Additionally, Evolution has recently signed a deal with Hasbro for Monopoly-themed slots, which are set to release sometime next year. 

Evolution’s Content is Now Available in All iGaming States

The partnership with Bally’s in Rhode Island marks a significant milestone for Evolution in the US. The company’s content is now available in all seven US iGaming states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. 

That means that Evolution’s content is available at over 50 online casino platforms across these states. 

With that, Evolution joins a small list of content providers that have achieved this milestone. IGT, which recently went through a significant restructuring, was the first. 

In March 2024, White Hat Gaming entered the state of Delaware, marking its seventh state. Notably, the company, which is significantly smaller than Evolution and IGT, has expanded rapidly in a relatively short time, having debuted in the US in 2022. 

Another content provider that has expanded to all seven states is Light and Wonder. 

Can Evolution Help the Underperforming Bally’s Casino in RI?

The addition of Evolution’s subsidiaries to Bally Casino’s game portfolio could give it a significant boost. The platform, the sole iGaming operator in the state, has struggled to meet initial revenue forecasts despite recent growth. 

Bally Casino generated $4.8 million in revenue in May, an impressive 113% year-over-year increase. Slots accounted for $3.7 million, a 129% yearly increase. 

While May was the second-highest revenue month (after March’s $5.1 million), Bally Casino has yet to catch up to initial forecasts. 

Before its March 2024 launch, Christiansen Capital Advisors (commissioned by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue) projected that the platform would generate $58.9 million in net revenue for 2024. However, Bally Casino generated under $22 million, less than half of the initial estimates. 

For the trailing year (July 24 – May 25), the platform generated $40.1 million. By comparison, Delaware’s single operator system has generated $77.5 million in the same period. 

Meanwhile, West Virginia, with a population less than twice that of Rhode Island’s, but with 10 platforms, saw $34.6 million in revenue for May alone.

The decision to limit online gambling to one single operator was the subject of debate among lawmakers in Rhode Island recently. 

IGT holds exclusivity in sports betting and has formed a partnership with Bally’s to supply and operate slots for the state’s casinos. 

A bill proposing to expand the gaming options received support in the Senate, which passed it with a 30-3 vote. However, it died in the House at the end of the legislative session in June. 

House Speaker Joe Shekarchi indicated that he was not interested in discussing the matter this year. Lawmakers are likely to revisit the topic in 2026 when the sports betting exclusive deal is up for review. 

The post Evolution Partners With Bally’s To Enter Rhode Island Online Casinos appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Light & Wonder, formerly Scientific Games, has partnered with the Monopoly IP holder Hasbro since the 1990s.

It penned its latest deal with Hasbro back in 2018, with the deal set to expire later this year. But Aristocrat appears to have stolen a march on its rival, announcing the launch of “all-new Monopoly-themed slot titles, beginning in early 2026.”

Light & Wonder appears to have been totally frozen out of the Hasbro-Monopoly picture. The developer Evolution announced June 1 that it has penned a multi-year agreement with the toy firm.

The deal makes Evolution Hasbro’s exclusive licensing partner for online live casino and slot games for Monopoly and its other IPs.

Evolution said the deal would take effect starting in January 2026. It said it would showcase a range of titles at the gaming industry event ICE Barcelona (January 19-21, 2026).

The firm teased the launch of the live online gaming titles Game Night, Monopoly Filthy Rich, and Monopoly Roulette. It also said a number of online slot titles would be forthcoming.

Evolution launched Monopoly Live, a live dealer, Monopoly-themed augmented reality (AR) game in mid-2019.

Aristocrat: Monopoly Deal to Launch in 2026

Aristocrat, meanwhile, said it was “excited to reintroduce one of the world’s most iconic brands to land-based slot games.”

Both Aristocrat and Evolution won competitive Hasbro RFP (Request for Proposal) bidding processes.

Craig Toner, the CEO of Aristocrat Gaming, said: “To be selected as Hasbro’s land-based slots partner, after a highly competitive process, is a proud milestone for Aristocrat Gaming.”

Claire Hunter Gregson, the Director of Gaming Relationships at Hasbro, meanwhile, said that Aristocrat was “the natural fit for the next evolution of the Monopoly brand in the gaming category.” She added: “We can’t wait for Monopoly fans to experience all-new premium gaming content on casino floors.”

Gregson also claimed that Evolution would “bring Hasbro brands to life in fresh, exciting ways for our adult fans.” She said the firms were “looking forward to our partnership.”

Light & Wonder and Aristocrat: Long-running Legal Battle

Light & Wonder and Aristocrat have been embroiled in a bitter legal struggle since last year. The latter claims that Light & Wonder infringed on the copyright of Aristocrat’s Dragon Link game to create its own Jewel of the Dragon slots title.

Aristocrat claims that the alleged copyright violation was carefully planned. Prior to the launch, Light & Wonder hired former Aristocrat executives and game designers.

In April this year, Light & Wonder said it would stop commercializing Jewel of the Dragon after Aristocrat launched a second amendment complaint.

But last month, Light & Wonder scored a legal coup over its rival. A branch of the Nevada District Court ruled that Aristocrat’s discovery request was too broad, a ruling that saw Light & Wonder shares rise by 10%.

The post Aristocrat Gaming Ousts Light & Wonder for Monopoly Slots Deal, Evolution Wins Online Rights appeared first on CasinoBeats.

37 million

GVC Holdings says the UK government’s imminent four-week national lockdown will cost the FTSE100 company an estimated £37m. 

England’s retail closure will cost the FTSE betting group a reported £27m, while the closure of its Eurobet Italia and Ladbrokes BE subsidiaries will cost £10m.

However, should the governments of Wales and Scotland replicate lockdown enforcements, a full UK retail closure would cost the company £34m – leading to combined UK and European retail losses of £43m.

66 

MGM Resorts International recorded net revenues of $1.1bn in the three months to September 30, a 66 per cent drop against the same period in 2019. The hardest hit properties were in Las Vegas and Macau, where flagship resorts were only partially open during the period and, even then, with footfall significantly down due to social distancing measures.

Net revenues for MGM China were down a whopping 94 per cent year on year, to $47m while Vegas revenues dropped 68 per cent against Q3 2019, to $481m. However, CEO Bill Hornbuckle founds grounds for optimism in both MGM’s resilience during the pandemic and also the ongoing success of the BetMGM joint venture with GVC Holdings.

1.25 million

Las Vegas’ Circa Resort and Casino, the first Vegas resort-casino built from the ground up in four decades, has officially opened.

The 1.25 million square-foot, adults-only property is lauded as paying homage to Vegas’ ‘Golden Era’ through vintage design, ‘old-school hospitality’ and nods to the city’s history while also laying claim to ‘high-tech advancements and cutting-edge amenities’.

Conceived by developer and CEO Derek Stevens, Circa’s opening marks a series of firsts and achievements for Las Vegas:

48

NatWest has introduced a gambling block on debit cards, giving customers the option to trigger a 48-hour cooling off period via their mobile banking app. Any transactions attempted during that time will be declined, with the block remaining in place indefinitely unless a customer chooses to remove it, in which case it can only be disabled after the
48-hour period.

Anna Hemmings, CEO of GamCare, praised the move. “The ability to block gambling transactions through your bank card or app is an important tool for those struggling with their gambling, and is ideally used together with other practical tools such as self-exclusion, blocking software, and specialist support around the issue,” she said.

“GamCare is pleased to see NatWest take this positive step to support their customers and we hope more of the financial sector follows suit.”

52

Zamba.co, the Colombian online gaming brand from Gaming1 is offering players in the country a wide range of games from Evolution Gaming, the first time live casino has been available in Colombia.

Zamba is now able to offer Colombian players 52 games from the Evolution catalogue, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and the studio’s signature gameshows.

“I am incredibly proud of the outstanding agility demonstrated by our world-class teams and am of course delighted that we are the first operator to offer the market live casino,” noted Sylvain Boniver, COO & co-founder of Gaming1.

The post MGM Resorts, GVC, NatWest and Circa: <br> The week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Kaplan has been part of Evolution and its Group Management since 2016. He will remain with the company in an advisory role for a period of time, with Andersson beginning the CFO role on 18 February.

”I want to thank Jacob for his work and contribution to the development of Evolution into the group we are today,” stated Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution.

“He has been an integral part of our management team and played a key role in our expansion and mission to improve the company each day. We wish him all the best in the future.”

Andersson has previously worked as a CFO for private equity real estate investor Slättö, research technology provider Cint and investment company Kinnevik.

Carlesund added: “At the same time, I am very much looking forward to working with Joakim. He has a strong background as an accomplished CFO and will strengthen our team and help the company take the next steps in its development.”

Commenting on his new role, Andersson said on LinkedIn: “I’m excited to share that, as of 18 February, I am beginning a new chapter in my career as the Chief Financial Officer at Evolution.

“I’m looking forward to collaborating with the talented team at Evolution to further strengthen the company’s financial position and continue delivering value to its stakeholders.”

The CFO change comes as Evolution Malta Limited is being reviewed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) regarding its operating licence in the UK market.

The review has been initiated under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 after the UKGC identified Evolution games as “being accessible from the UK through operators not holding a Commission license”.

Possible outcomes from the review include no action being taken, conditions being imposed on the licence, financial sanction, suspension and revocation of Evolution’s licence to operate.

Evolution has stated that it is cooperating with the UKGC to resolve the matter.

The post Joakim Andersson to replace Jacob Kaplan as Evolution CFO appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Over the next week, we are reflecting on the feature series and taking a look at some of the most interesting insights from origin stories of igaming players. 

SlotBeats: What is your favourite game of all time and why?

Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale: Elite, which was a game that saw you travel the galaxy in a spaceship, buying goods and selling them on a different planet. You had to use a map to get around the galaxy and work out which planets would give you the best price for whatever it was you bought. 

Sometimes you could buy contraband and the police would chase you – or pirates would try and steal your cargo. It made you feel like Han Solo from Star Wars, and it had a vast world that you could get lost in. It’s one of the best games ever and has captivating 3D effects. 

Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps: Call of Duty 4, the original Modern Warfare. It was an awesome multiplayer experience that I enjoyed for years with my friends. 

The online progression system was something I hadn’t experienced before, and I always wanted to get to the next level. Not only that, but the main game campaign was so captivating. 

I’m praying for the day this game gets made into a TV series.

Slots Temple Marketing Director Suzanne Jiggens-Johnson: My favourite game depends on the situation and who I’m playing with. If I’m playing with my children, then nothing really beats Mario Kart for instilling a bit of fun family rivalry that brings out the competitive spirit in all of us. Once the kids are in bed though, Halo is still an old time favourite, which has stood the test of time for letting off a bit of steam.

Christoffer Andersson, Chief Operating Officer at 500 Casino: It is a close race between Zelda: A Link to the Past and Shenmue so I will pick both.

Zelda: A Link to the Past is the best game of the Zelda series, regardless of how good the latest on Switch is, for its presentation, the storyline and the use of the top-down perspective instead of the side scroller, and of course the innovative gameplay with all the puzzle games and hidden easter eggs.

Shenmue on Sega Dreamcast laid the foundation for a lot of open world adventure games.

You could do more or less what you wanted in that game, from going into a shop and using a vending machine to challenging random people in darts or other games. Regardless of the massive amount of choices, it still managed to keep you on track with the story line, which wasn’t bad either.

The post Game Play reflections: The industry’s favourite game  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The review has been initiated under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 after the Commission identified Evolution games as “being accessible from the UK through operators not holding a Commission license”.

A range of outcomes is possible from the review, including no action being taken, conditions being imposed on the licence, financial sanction, suspension and revocation of Evolution’s licence to operate.

Within its statement, Evolution said it is cooperating with the UKGC to resolve the matter.

“Evolution is cooperating fully with the Commission and has taken requested immediate actions to remedy the situation,” the supplier said.

“Games on the identified websites not holding a Commission license have been made unavailable from the UK. Evolution continues to actively work with the Commission to resolve this matter.”

Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution, also commented on the UKGC review, noting that the supplier is committed to supporting the licensed UK market, which generates around 3% of its revenue.

“Evolution embraces the objectives of the review by the Commission,” stated Carlesund.

“We are committed to support the licensed UK market as well as preventing unlicensed traffic. We are now taking forceful action using all technical tools available to us to ensure that our games only are available in the UK through Commission licensed operators. 

“We believe that a close collaboration to address our joint concerns will lead to swifter and better results. As always we remain committed to an open and transparent relationship with our regulators.”

The review of Evolution’s licence in the UK comes after UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes told licensed operators at its annual CEO Briefing last month to conduct due diligence to ensure suppliers are not supporting illegal activity.

Rhodes said: “I said to you last year that I wanted to encourage you to use your commercial influence with any partner or supplier you have to ensure they were taking all the relevant steps to verify they were not supporting illegal activity facing into GB. 

“I’m going to go one step further than that today and strongly suggest you all undertake due diligence to ensure none of your suppliers are directly or indirectly engaged in supporting unlicensed activity in this market. 

“The Commission’s strategy on combatting illegal gambling is to cause as much up-stream disruption as we can, which is why we have focussed on ISPs, payment providers, search engines, software suppliers and more.”

The post UKGC reviewing Evolution’s UK licence due to unlicensed activity appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As a result of the extension, FanDuel will continue to offer slots from Evolutions roster of in-house studios NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming, and Nolimit City, marking the second deal renewal between the two firms. 

Jacob Claesson, Chief Executive Officer of Evolution North America, said: “We are thrilled to extend our successful partnership with FanDuel, providing players with the very best in online casino entertainment. 

“FanDuel’s trust in Evolution highlights our shared commitment to growing the live casino market and creating a truly immersive experience for players across North America.”

In addition to slot releases provided by Evolution, FanDuel will also continue to offer live casino products through the deal extension, leveraging Ezugi’s catalogue of content, another one of Evolution’s subsidiaries. 

The partnership officially began back in 2020 when Evolution first offered FanDuel its collection of live casino products. 

Asaf Noifeld, Managing Director of FanDuel Casino, added: “FanDuel Casino is the leading casino operator in the US, offering the largest selection of exclusive live casino tables in the market. 

“Expanding our partnership with Evolution for live casino and RNG games enables us to consistently provide a top-tier experience to our customers. We look forward to our continued growth in the live casino sector.”

Evolution will be pleased to continue offering its various slot catalogues across the US with FanDuel as the supplier’s igaming content performs consistently well in the nation – as reported in our coverage of Eilers-Fantini performance reports. 

Evolution led the Eilers-Fantini supplier charts for consecutive months in October, securing the largest portion of GGR share with 18% (September: 17.9%).

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Online casino brands with access to Evolution’s product can now add the live streaming service to their platforms as a result of the integration, building on Evolution’s acquisition of the streaming brand completed in February. 

Michael Pedersen, Chief Commercial Officer at Livespins, commented: “This is one of the biggest upsides we have been able to take advantage of following our acquisition by Evolution earlier in the year. One Stop Shop is a cutting-edge solution that allows operators to easily access Evolution’s market-leading content offering, now including Livespins.”

This will encourage social experiences within their casino lobbies as players become able to watch Livespins’ streamers play slots from suppliers partnered with Livespins, including Evolution-owned brands NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming and Nolimit City. 

Pedersen added: “We are thrilled to be lining up alongside the likes of NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming, and Nolimit City with Livespins set to become a household name among players as they become more familiar with the socially charged experiences our product provides.” 

Players can then bet along with the streamers’ gameplay, creating a shared player  experience where each user can communicate with one another using text, reactions, emojis and gifs as they join in on the action. 

Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, added: “We are delighted to have added Livespins to our One Stop Shop platform. 

“Operators know that players are seeking social experiences, and Livespins offers this in a unique way with players able to get directly involved by betting with the streamer. Those connected to our One Stop Shop platform can now easily integrate Livespins into their offering.”

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