Who Owns Pragmatic Play?
Pragmatic Play is one of the most prominent content providers in the global iGaming sector, known for its award-winning portfolio of slots, live casino games, bingo, and virtual sports. Since rising to prominence in the mid-2010s, the company has become a powerhouse in regulated markets. But who actually owns Pragmatic Play and how is the company structured today?
Origins of Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play was launched in 2015 through the acquisition of Topgame Technology, a gaming provider who was active since 2007, primarily serving unregulated markets. The acquisition, followed by new leadership, marked a strategic pivot toward mobile-first design, regulated operations, and European licensing. Today, Pragmatic Play holds licenses in multiple highly regulated markets globally, including the UK, Sweden, Ontario, Malta, and Gibraltar.
Early titles like Hot Safari and Queen of Gold showcased the studio’s potential, but few predicted just how quickly it would ascend to the top tier of global suppliers.
Ownership and Corporate Structure
Since 2016, Pragmatic Play has operated under a deliberately opaque ownership structure, typical of privately held iGaming businesses. Pragmatic Play is owned by a private group of investors led by Veridian (Gibraltar) Limited, which is headed by Julian Jarvis. An experienced lawyer, businessman and investor, Julian is also the Co-founder and CEO of Pragmatic Play. The company is not publicly traded, and its shareholder composition remains undisclosed.
In recent years, the emergence of ARRISE as a services group supporting Pragmatic Play in areas such as technology, HR, and operations, reflects a strategic effort to enhance scalability and operational efficiency.
Leadership
Julian Jarvis has been involved with Pragmatic Play since 2016, initially serving as Chief Legal Officer. He formally assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in early 2020, following several years in senior leadership within the company. Under his leadership, Pragmatic Play has evolved into a global multi-vertical supplier, securing licenses in more than 20 regulated markets and expanding its presence across Latin America, Europe, and beyond.
Office Locations
Pragmatic Play is head quartered and operates out of Gibraltar while ARRISE, a services group that powers Pragmatic Play, has operations in a number of jurisdictions, including:
- Malta (Sliema) – Commercial and compliance
- Gibraltar – Legal and corporate leadership
- Bucharest, Romania – Live casino production
- Hyderabad, India – Software development
- Sofia, Bulgaria – Live casino production
This decentralized setup allows the company to serve a diverse range of markets while remaining agile and locally responsive.