Evolution opens new live gaming studio in Connecticut; launch praised by Gov. Lamont

B2B online casino services provider Evolution has opened its new studio in Connecticut. The news was celebrated by Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday, with the new development slated to bring nearly 400 jobs to the region.

The company, which has already hired 140 employees to work at its newly built studio in Fairfield, is offering technical production, administrative and information technology positions, as well as security.

The company began operations with a seven-day soft launch, authorized by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, on Monday. It will provide live dealer games on both the FanDuel and DraftKings iCasino platforms offered in the state. 

During the soft launch, only blackjack and roulette tables will be available to a limited number of participants. Then it will transition seamlessly into the full launch at 11 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2022, pending the resolution of any issues discovered in the soft launch. 

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection will monitor the soft launch to ensure Evolution’s games meet the state’s regulations for online gaming. Connecticut laws require Evolution to operate in an in-state facility in order to offer live dealer games on the state’s gaming platforms. 

In an official statement, Gov. Ned Lamont commented: “With the addition of Evolution, we are continuing to provide a modern, technologically advanced gaming experience that provides an elevated user experience for eligible residents and is competitive with our neighboring states."

According to Lamont, Connecticut has long proven to be a leader when it comes to the gaming economy "going back decades," and this expansion is set to allow those who want to participate in online gaming "to continue doing so responsibly."

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, said: “We are proud of the hard work our Gaming Division has done to ensure Evolution’s facilities and offering meet the high standards set by our regulations to create a safe and successful opportunity for live dealer games in Connecticut’s online gaming marketplace."

Evolution's revenues in the fourth quarter of 2021 began to show an early-stage increase of 69% driven by strong global demand for Live Casino, with numbers impacted by the increased revenue from the RNG business.  

Martin Carlesund, Evolution's CEO, said back then that the company would seek to deliver stronger growth in RNG during 2022, in an upward trend backed by new games and its one-stop-shop solution, which allows operators to access its games through one integration. 

This year has seen several Live Casino-oriented deals for the company. In May 2022, Evolution signed an agreement with online casino brand PlayStar for the provision of its online Live Casino and "First Person" RNG-based casino games in New Jersey for PlayStar's US market debut later in the year. This was followed by a European agreement with OlyBet to provide Live Casino services in the Baltic States. 

In late June, BetMGM announced the opening of its private live dealer studio in Michigan, built in partnership with Evolution. BetMGM Casino launched its Michigan live dealer offering in July 2021 and currently holds a 39% market share in the state. The new studio allows players to interact with a live dealer and other players at blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tables of varying price points.