Evolution is expanding its presence in New Jersey with a new live dealer studio at Atlantic City’s Showboat, marking the company’s largest iGaming studio to date. The news follows the company’s third-quarter report with growth in all regions for the first time in two years.
Replacing the Non-Gaming Hotel
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has approved the facility, according to a report by The Press of Atlantic City.
The project will spread across roughly 60,000 square feet on the second floor of the Showboat property, which is currently operating as a hotel with no gaming options available.
The new facility comes to amplify Evolution’s existing live dealer operations in the city. The list includes popular studios at the Tropicana, Hard Rock, and Ocean Casino.
These facilities provide online casino players with access to live dealer table games and physical slot machines through digital platforms.
Evolution supplies live casino products to several major operators in New Jersey, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Palace Online Casino, Hard Rock Bet, BetFanatics and BetRivers.
The Swedish company also owns several gaming software brands, including NetEnt, Red Tiger and DigiWheel.
New Jersey’s Online Casino Market Continues to Grow
The timing for the expansion is not random, as it follows the ongoing growth of online gambling and its outperformance of traditional casino operations in New Jersey.
Together, Atlantic City’s nine casinos generated $2.89 billion from in-person slots and table games last year, from $2.81 billion the year prior. At the same time, physical casino revenue went down 1.3% through September 2026.
Online casinos have had a different trajectory, with New Jersey’s iGaming market recording annual revenue growth in every full calendar year since its launch.
Operators generated $2.91 billion in online casino revenue in 2025, while revenue was up 13% through September 2026.
Evolution had previously planned a much larger investment in the state, announcing in 2024 that it intended to spend $75 million on a 130,000-square-foot broadcasting studio at 2301 Fairmount Avenue.
However, the company later dropped those plans and instead opted for the Showboat location as a faster way to increase capacity.
Showboat Faces Financial Difficulties
Evolution’s brand new studio also comes as the Showboat property faces a series of financial problems.
Namely, owner Bart Blatstein is dealing with foreclosure proceedings linked to an alleged unpaid $48.5 million mortgage held by Barclays Capital Real Estate.
According to a court filing, Blatstein is also tackling unpaid insurance premiums exceeding $1 million, alongside outstanding property renovation and mold remediation obligations.
Finally, the owner additionally faces a state tax lien exceeding $400,000.
The Showboat operated as a casino until 2014, when Caesars Entertainment closed the gaming operation. Blatstein paid $23 million to purchase the property a decade ago, and subsequently invested in attractions including the Island Waterpark and Lucky Snake arcade.
The Evolution studio represents a new commercial use for part of the property, bringing a major online gaming operation into a building that can no longer operate as a traditional casino.
Evolution is expanding its presence in New Jersey with a new live dealer studio at Atlantic City’s Showboat, marking the company’s largest iGaming studio to date. The news follows the company’s third-quarter report with growth in all regions for the first time in two years. Replacing the Non-Gaming Hotel The New Jersey Division of Gaming