With its existing Michigan operations nearing capacity, Evolution has chosen Grand Rapids for its next live casino studio, a move expected to create more than 300 jobs in the region. The company already employs nearly 1,000 people statewide and says continued demand for live dealer gaming has driven the need for additional space.
Michigan law requires live online casino games to be streamed from in-state studios for residents who play on digital platforms. Evolution currently operates in Southfield, where growth has tightened available room for expansion. CEO Jacob Claesson said the company reached a point where scaling further required another facility.
Inside the Grand Rapids building, preparations are underway to convert a largely vacant interior into a functioning broadcast studio. “It looks very empty now, but in a couple of months we will have a lot of tables up and running here,”Evolution North America CEO Jacob Claesson said.
Claesson expects the site’s workforce to surpass 300 employees once fully operational. “I think we’ll be over 300 employees here,” Claesson said.
The company supplies live dealer games to major online casino brands, including FanDuel, Hard Rock and BetMGM. Players connect through mobile devices or computers while interacting with real dealers streamed from Evolution studios. “Live casino is essentially that you play with a real dealer from your own device, wherever you are, and that’s streamed from one of our studios. We provide that to essentially all the online casinos around the world,” Claesson said.
Monopoly Live to Anchor Grand Rapids Launch
The Grand Rapids studio will host the Michigan debut of Monopoly Live, which the company identifies as a major rollout for the year. “We’re launching Monopoly Live here in Michigan. So this will definitely be the biggest launch of this year,” Claesson said.
During a recent tour, Claesson allowed a rare look at the gaming floor before its official opening. “So this is a rare moment, and I would say this is actually the only time we’ve allowed someone to come in and film inside of a gaming floor,” Claesson said.
He credited the area’s welcoming atmosphere as a factor in selecting the city. After several visits, Claesson said he noticed a consistent friendliness. “I didn’t know the terminology West Michigan nice until then, but I just felt that friendliness, people were smiling, people were greeting you, and that was not just one interaction,” Claesson said. “It was the Uber drivers. There were the hotels, the cafes, the restaurants that I went to. So that really helped me with that decision.”
Big Win and Industry Honor
In separate news, a bonus round of Crazy Time produced six consecutive DOUBLE spins, creating a 20,000x maximum multiplier. The result generated a €16.9 million payout shared by more than 5,500 players.
The company also announced it was named European Casino Content Supplier at the EGR Europe Awards 2026, citing its localized products, OSS platform, customized live environments and Dream Creator offering for European markets.
Source:
“Evolution’s Post”, linkedin.com “Evolution”, February 19, 2026
The post Evolution Deepens Michigan Investment With New Studio first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.