Evolution Opens Bucharest Live Casino Studio as Romanian Market Enters Regulatory Overhaul
Evolution has inaugurated a 4,500-square-metre live dealer studio in Bucharest, its first dedicated production facility in Southeastern Europe. The launch coincides with sweeping changes to Romania's gambling framework, positioning the supplier to serve both domestic licensees and neighbouring regulated markets.
Evolution officially opened the doors to its Bucharest live casino studio on Friday, marking a significant capacity expansion for the Swedish supplier and creating an estimated 700 jobs in the Romanian capital over the next 18 months. The facility houses 42 live tables spanning roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game show formats, with dedicated native-language rooms for Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Greek and Turkish-speaking players. Company executives confirmed the studio will also serve as a backup production hub for Evolution's Malta and Latvia operations during peak demand periods.
The timing aligns with Romania's ongoing regulatory reset under ONJN, the national gambling authority, which introduced revised licensing conditions in April 2026 including higher capital requirements, mandatory local server infrastructure and a new 2% GGR levy earmarked for problem gambling treatment programmes. Several offshore-facing operators exited the market following the reforms, but licensed heavyweights including Superbet, Betano and Fortuna have expanded their live casino offerings, driving demand for locally-produced content that Evolution's new facility is designed to meet.
Romania's online gambling gross revenue reached €1.94 billion in 2025 according to ONJN figures, with live casino representing roughly 28% of iGaming turnover — a share that has grown consistently for six consecutive quarters. Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund said the Bucharest investment reflects the company's strategy of establishing production capacity inside regulated jurisdictions rather than relying solely on cross-border streaming, particularly as more European regulators mandate in-country hosting.
Industry analysts noted that the studio strengthens Evolution's competitive position against Pragmatic Play Live and Playtech, both of which have expanded Eastern European operations in recent years. The Bucharest facility is expected to reach full operational capacity by Q4 2026, with Evolution hinting at further game show format launches tailored specifically to the Balkan region in early 2027.