Evolution Opens Sofia Live Casino Studio to Serve Expanding Eastern European Markets
Evolution has launched a new live dealer studio in Sofia, Bulgaria, its first production facility dedicated to Eastern European regulated markets. The 4,200-square-meter site will initially stream Bulgarian, Romanian, and Czech-language tables, with Polish content planned for Q1 2027.
Evolution confirmed on Thursday the opening of its Sofia live casino studio, marking the group's thirteenth global production hub and its first purpose-built facility targeting Eastern European regulated jurisdictions. The 4,200-square-meter site, located in Sofia Tech Park, will employ around 850 dealers and support staff at full capacity and begins streaming native-language blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tables this week. Operators licensed in Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic have already signed integration agreements, according to the company.
The Sofia launch addresses a long-standing gap in Evolution's regional footprint, with most Eastern European-facing content previously streamed from its Riga and Tbilisi facilities. Chief Operating Officer Jacob Claesson said the dedicated studio would allow for culturally tailored game shows and localized presenter rotations, including a Bulgarian-language version of Crazy Time scheduled for a December debut. The move also reduces latency for players in the region, a growing priority as regulators tighten technical performance standards for live content.
Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency approved Evolution's studio license in September following a nine-month review process that included on-site security audits and compliance checks against the country's updated Gambling Act amendments. The facility will operate under direct supervision from the NRA's remote gaming division, with real-time game logs mirrored to regulators in each receiving jurisdiction. Evolution noted that Polish-language tables remain contingent on the outcome of ongoing discussions with Totalizator Sportowy and the Ministry of Finance regarding third-party live content provisioning.
Industry analysts view the Sofia investment as part of Evolution's broader strategy to decentralize production ahead of anticipated capacity constraints at its Latvian hub, which currently serves more than 40 regulated markets. H2 Gambling Capital estimates Eastern European live casino gross gaming revenue will reach €1.1 billion in 2026, growing at a compound rate of 14% through 2029, driven primarily by Romania's post-reform operator landscape and Bulgaria's recently expanded online licensing framework.