Evolution Grand Rapids Studio Expansion And Industry Updates

Posted on February 23, 2026 | 12:51 pm
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Evolution is preparing a new live casino studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with plans to create more than 300 jobs as demand for live dealer gaming continues to expand. The project adds to the company’s existing presence in the state, where it already operates a studio in Southfield and employs close to 1,000 people.

The new facility will support live casino production used across major online gambling platforms. These studios stream real-time dealer games to players using mobile devices or desktop systems. State regulations in Michigan require this type of local studio infrastructure for licensed online casino gaming.

“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. “I think we’ll be over 300 employees here,” Claesson said.

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Studio Expansion And Local Hiring Plans

Company leadership described the Grand Rapids project as a capacity expansion driven by continued growth in live casino gaming. Claesson indicated that existing facilities in Michigan are approaching operational limits.

“We’re growing a lot. We’re almost 1,000 employees in Michigan already, but we’re sort of running out of space and capacity,” Claesson said.

Live casino production involves professional dealers hosting table games that are broadcast to gambling apps worldwide. “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.

The new site is also expected to host upcoming product launches, including a branded live game. “We’re launching Monopoly Live here in Michigan. So this will definitely be the biggest launch of this year,” Claesson said.

Executives pointed to local workforce availability as a factor in choosing the city. Claesson referenced the region’s hospitality and community environment when discussing the location decision. “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.”

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Broader Company Activity And Industry Momentum

The studio announcement coincides with additional developments linked to Evolution’s global operations. Company communications highlighted continued workforce expansion in Michigan and preparations for the Grand Rapids rollout, noting expectations for over 300 new jobs tied to the studio launch.

Separate updates also referenced performance  in live casino entertainment. A recent bonus round on the Crazy Time game produced a 20,000x multiplier payout totalling €16.9 million shared among more than 5,500 players.

Industry recognition has accompanied these operational developments. Evolution recently the European Casino Content Supplier title at the EGR Europe Awards 2026. The company framed the award as recognition of its technology platforms, localised products, and ongoing development of live casino environments designed for regulated markets.

Together, these updates reflect continuing investment in live dealer infrastructure, product launches, and digital gaming technology. The Grand Rapids facility represents the latest physical expansion connected to this strategy and is expected to become operational after installation of gaming tables and studio equipment.

Source:

, fox17online.com, February 05, 2026

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