Live online gaming solutions provider Evolution Gaming Group has announced that it will be building its first studio outside of Europe after agreeing a deal with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation to bring a new state-of-the art facility to western Canada.

Via its current portfolio of seven live online gaming studios, Stockholm-based Evolution Gaming Group offers players the chance to enjoy real-time games of blackjack, roulette and baccarat as well as numerous versions of poker from the comfort of their own homes utilizing the Internet. Featuring real-life dealers along with tables and games that can be branded to suit the specific requirements of partner operators, the Swedish firm’s around-the-clock offerings are all overseen by a control room that can intervene to provide rapid issue resolution.

Evolution Gaming Group declared that its five-year deal with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation will see it construct a 16,000 sq ft Canadian studio in the Vancouver area that could be open by the end of the year. The company explained that this first non-Europe facility will subsequently offer desktop and mobile users of the PlayNow.com website an around-the-clock assortment of ten live table games encompassing blackjack, baccarat and roulette.

“Entering the Canadian market with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation signifies a huge breakthrough outside of our European operations,” read a statement from Martin Carlesund, Chief Executive Officer for Evolution Gaming Group. “Through this new partnership we are confident we will deliver the very best live casino experience for British Columbia Lottery Corporation players and an exceptional live casino studio facility for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and other Canadian lottery jurisdictions in the future. This latest expansion consolidates Evolution Gaming Group’s position as global leader in the business-to-business live casino market [and] this delivery further highlights our ability to provide solutions that meet the most stringent requirements of regulated markets.”

Evolution Gaming Group stated that its coming British Columbia studio could create up to 170 full-time jobs and will be designed so that it can in the future offer live games via the Internet to other Canadian provincial gambling operators.

“We are delighted to enter into this agreement with Evolution Gaming Group to bring the thrill of live interactive casino gaming to our online players,” read a statement from Monica Bohm, eGaming Vice-President for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. “New and innovative products like live casino will help the British Columbia Lottery Corporation continue to deliver the very best in gambling entertainment to our players while benefiting communities across British Columbia.”