Avanti Studios Expands into Malta: A Strategic Move in the Live Casino Revolution
Avanti Studios Expands into Malta: A Strategic Move in the Live Casino Revolution
The iGaming industry is witnessing a rapid transformation as live casino suppliers race to establish a foothold in key regulatory hubs. On 23 September 2026, Avanti Studios, a Stockholm-based pioneer in motion-capture live casino technology, announced the opening of a new office in Malta. This expansion is not merely a geographical shift—it is a calculated step in the company’s aggressive commercial strategy following its April 2026 launch. Below, we delve into the context, implications, and broader trends driving this move, while also exploring how Avanti’s technology is reshaping the live casino landscape.
Why Malta? The Strategic Importance of the Island for iGaming Suppliers
Access to MGA Licensing and European Operator Networks
Malta has long been a cornerstone of the European iGaming industry, serving as the headquarters for the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), one of the most respected regulatory bodies in the world. For live casino suppliers like Avanti Studios, establishing a presence in Malta offers:
- Proximity to operators: Many of Europe’s largest online casino operators, including bet365, Entain, and Kindred Group, have operations or regional headquarters in Malta. This physical proximity allows suppliers to build deeper, more responsive commercial relationships.
- Regulatory efficiency: The MGA licensing framework is not only well-established but also recognized across multiple jurisdictions. A Maltese base simplifies the process of entering new regulated markets across Europe and beyond.
- Talent pool: Malta hosts a dense concentration of iGaming professionals, from compliance experts to sales managers, making it easier to recruit specialized staff.
Avanti’s new office is designed to support its “expanding commercial function,” as the company explicitly states. This means moving beyond a remote sales model to a localized team that can attend meetings, host demonstrations, and provide real-time support to operators.
A Growing Trend Among Live Casino Suppliers
Avanti is not alone in its migration to Malta. In recent years, several live casino suppliers have established Maltese offices to access MGA infrastructure and tap into the island’s operator networks. Examples include:
- Evolution Gaming: The market leader in live casino has had a major presence in Malta for years, including a dedicated studio and administrative offices.
- Authentic Gaming: Founded by Jonas Delin (co-founder of Avanti), the company has also operated from Malta.
- Pragmatic Play: While based in Malta, Pragmatic Play has expanded its live casino operations from the island, leveraging the regulatory ecosystem.
This trend underscores a broader shift: as regulated markets expand—particularly in Europe, Latin America, and Asia—suppliers need physical hubs to navigate local compliance and build trust with operators. Avanti’s Malta office is the latest example of this strategic play.
Avanti’s Disruptive Technology: Motion Capture Meets AI and Cloud Streaming
Rethinking the Live Casino Production Model
Traditional live casino studios require fixed physical spaces, dedicated camera crews, shift managers, and a constant rotation of croupiers. This overhead often limits scalability and keeps costs high, especially for suppliers entering new markets. Avanti Studios has taken a radically different approach, replacing human croupiers with digital “dealer clones” generated through a combination of:
- In-house motion capture studio: Avanti records the precise movements, hand gestures, and table techniques of experienced land-based croupiers. These recordings capture not just the mechanics of dealing but also the human nuances—such as facial expressions and body language—that players expect.
- 3D animation and AI: The motion data is combined with 3D modeling and artificial intelligence to create highly realistic avatars. AI algorithms handle real-time decision-making, such as dealing cards, spinning wheels, and responding to player bets.
- Proprietary cloud-based Unreal Engine streaming protocol: This is the backbone of Avanti’s system. By streaming game content from the cloud via Unreal Engine, the supplier eliminates the need for players to download heavy software. It also allows for seamless multiplayer experiences across devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) without latency issues.
Key Advantages Over Conventional Live Casino
| Conventional Live Casino | Avanti’s Digital Dealer System |
|---|---|
| Fixed studio location(s) | No physical studio required—games stream from the cloud |
| High staffing costs (croupiers, shifts) | Single motion-capture session creates reusable avatar data |
| Limited scaling (new market = new studio) | Scale by adding cloud capacity, not building new physical facilities |
| 24/7 operational costs | Automated gameplay reduces ongoing operational expenses |
This technology is particularly attractive for regulated markets where margins are tight, and operators seek cost-effective solutions without sacrificing player immersion. The digital dealers can host real-time multiplayer games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, offering the same interactive experience as a human-led table.
Commercial Momentum: From April Launch to Multi-Market Expansion
The Luckia Partnership: A Landmark Entry into Spain
Avanti launched commercially in April 2026 with a significant milestone: a distribution agreement with Luckia, a leading Spanish operator. This marked the first time in over a decade that new live casino content had been introduced to the Spanish regulated market. Why is this noteworthy?
- Regulatory barriers: Spain’s regulated iGaming market is notoriously difficult to penetrate, with strict technical and content requirements. Securing approval for a new live casino product—especially one using unproven technology—required extensive compliance work and operator trust.
- Market gap: Before Avanti, Spanish players had limited options for modern live casino experiences, as legacy providers dominated the scene. Avanti’s digital dealers offered something fresh.
Expanding the Distribution Network
Since the Luckia deal, Avanti has signed two additional high-profile distribution agreements:
- bet365: Initially covering Spain, with plans to expand into other regulated markets. bet365 is one of the world’s largest online gambling platforms, so this partnership signals strong confidence in Avanti’s technology.
- Entain: A global operator with a portfolio of brands (including Ladbrokes, Coral, and bwin). The Entain deal likely covers multiple jurisdictions, accelerating Avanti’s European footprint.
These agreements are not just about geographic reach; they also demonstrate that major operators are willing to experiment with next-generation live casino technology, even if it means moving away from traditional human dealers.
Financial Backing: €10 Million Seed Round
On 19 May 2026, Avanti closed a €10 million seed round—a significant sum for a pre-revenue B2B supplier. The round became oversubscribed shortly after opening, indicating strong investor appetite for disruptive live casino tech. Key investors and their motivations:
- Venture capital firms focused on iGaming/Fintech: See Avanti as a potential category leader, similar to how Evolution Gaming grew from a niche provider to a market cap of over €20 billion.
- Angel investors with previous iGaming exit experience: Gustaf Hagman (co-founder of LeoVegas) and Jonas Delin (founder of Authentic Gaming) both bring deep industry connections and credibility.
The funds will likely be allocated to:
- Scaling the cloud infrastructure to support more concurrent players.
- Expanding the motion capture library (adding new croupiers, game variants, and languages).
- Hiring commercial and technical talent in Malta and Stockholm.
Leadership Build-Up: Strategic Hires Signal Maturity
Steven Tabone: Commercial Director (Appointed July 2026)
Steven Tabone joined Avanti as Commercial Director, bringing extensive experience from Evolution Gaming, the world’s largest live casino supplier. At Evolution, Tabone likely managed key operator relationships in Europe and Latin America. His hire signals:
- Focus on operator relations: Tabone’s role will be to nurture partnerships like bet365 and Entain, while also opening doors to new clients.
- Malta as a base: Tabone is based in Malta, making him an ideal leader for the new office. His local knowledge of the Maltese iGaming cluster will be invaluable.
Jonas Ericson: Chief Financial Officer (Appointed 2 September 2026)
Just weeks before the Malta office announcement, Avanti appointed Jonas Ericson as CFO. Ericson spent six-and-a-half years at Klarna, the global payments and banking giant, where he last served as Global Head of Finance. This hire is a clear signal of Avanti’s intent to:
- Prepare for future fundraising: With a CFO from a high-profile fintech unicorn, Avanti is positioning itself for Series A or even IPO discussions in the coming years.
- Institute financial discipline: As the company scales rapidly—moving from a seed-stage startup to a commercial supplier—strong financial controls are essential.
- Interact with investors: Ericson’s experience at Klarna means he knows how to communicate with institutional investors, which will be critical for future capital raises.
Lessons for the iGaming Industry: What Avanti’s Move Means
The Shift from “Studio-Led” to “Cloud-Led” Live Casino
Avanti’s business model represents a fundamental shift from traditional studio-based live casino to cloud-based, asset-light production. If successful, this could:
- Lower barriers to entry: Smaller operators might be able to offer live casino games without investing in their own studio facilities.
- Accelerate market expansion: Suppliers can launch in new jurisdictions by simply adding cloud capacity, rather than building and staffing physical studios.
- Increase personalization: Digital dealers can be customized per operator or per game, offering tailored branding, language options, and game rules.
Risks and Challenges
Despite its potential, Avanti faces several obstacles:
- Player perception: Some gamblers prefer the spontaneity and human interaction of real croupiers. Avanti’s digital clones must be indistinguishable from humans—or offer unique benefits (e.g., faster gameplay, 24/7 availability) to win over skeptics.
- Regulatory scrutiny: Licensing authorities may require additional testing for AI-driven games, especially regarding fairness and randomness. Avanti must prove that its algorithms are truly random and not vulnerable to manipulation.
- Competition: Evolution Gaming remains the dominant force in live casino, with a massive library of games and operator relationships. Even smaller competitors like Playtech and NetEnt have established live casino divisions. Avanti must differentiate itself through technology and speed of execution.
About Avanti Studios: Founders and Vision
Avanti Studios was founded by Gustaf Hagman, co-founder of LeoVegas (one of the most successful mobile-first casino operators), and Jonas Delin, founder of Authentic Gaming (a pioneer in live casino streaming from physical land-based casinos). This combination of mobile gambling expertise and live casino innovation gives Avanti a unique pedigree.
The company’s mission is to “disrupt the live casino world” by removing the constraints of physical studios and human labor, while preserving the excitement and authenticity that players associate with real tables. With its Malta office, expanding leadership team, and growing operator network, Avanti is positioning itself as a serious contender in the next generation of live casino technology.
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