Meridian Holdings (NASDAQ:MRDN) Announces Dejan Petković, Brazilian Football Legend, as Global Brand Ambassador
Meridian Holdings (NASDAQ:MRDN) appointed Brazilian football legend Dejan Petković as Global Brand Ambassador and strategic partner.
Rhea-AI Summary
Meridian Holdings (NASDAQ:MRDN) appointed Brazilian football legend Dejan Petković as Global Brand Ambassador and strategic partner.
Petković will launch Pet TV, a sports, culture, and entertainment platform, with Meridianbet as founding partner. In Q1 2026, revenue reached $50.1M (+17% YoY), net income $2.2M, and adjusted EBITDA $6.3M (+26% YoY).
Positive
- Q1 2026 revenue of $50.1 million, up 17% year-over-year
- Q1 2026 net income of $2.2 million, returning to GAAP profitability
- Q1 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $6.3 million, up 26% year-over-year and ahead of guidance
- Dejan Petković appointed Global Brand Ambassador to support global brand reach
- Launch of Pet TV platform extends brand into sports, culture, and entertainment content
Negative
- None.
Details
News Market Reaction – MRDN
In the May 27 session, MRDN declined 0.66%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
- Q1 2026 revenue
- $50.1 million
- Strongest quarter on record, as noted in announcement
- Revenue growth
- 17% year-over-year
- Q1 2026 vs prior-year quarter
- Net income
- $2.2 million
- Q1 2026 GAAP profitability
- Adjusted EBITDA
- $6.3 million
- Q1 2026, described as ahead of guidance
- Adj. EBITDA growth
- 26% year-over-year
- Q1 2026 vs prior-year quarter
- Career goals in Brazil
- 167 goals
- Dejan Petković across seven Brazilian clubs
- Bola de Prata awards
- 3 awards
- Brazilian league midfielder honors for Petković
- Meridianbet legacy
- 25 years
- Years Meridianbet spent building its brand, per CEO quote
Historical Context
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Reported strong Q1 2026 growth, GAAP profitability and higher adjusted EBITDA.
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Analyst maintained favorable view after record 2025 revenue and lower leverage.
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Launched redesigned Malta platform with AI tools and new betting features.
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Highlighted focus shift to financial performance ahead of earnings season.
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Completed corporate rebrand and noted profitability inflection and debt reduction.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
adjusted ebitda financial
gaap profitability financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / May 26, 2026 / Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MRDN) ("Meridian" or the "Company"), a global operator and technology provider in online sports betting and gaming markets, today announced that Dejan Petković, a Brazilian football legend universally regarded as one of the most beloved and decorated foreign players in the history of the sport in that country, has signed an agreement to become the Global Brand Ambassador of the Company.
As part of the partnership, Petković will launch Pet TV - a multimedia content platform focused on sport, culture, and entertainment - with Meridian Holdings largest subsidiary and flagship brand Meridianbet serving as its founding strategic partner. The platform represents a new chapter in Petković's engagement with Brazilian and global audiences and extends the Company's brand presence beyond traditional sports betting into entertainment content.
"Dejan Petković built his legend in Brazil - and Brazil claimed him as its own. Meridianbet has spent 25 years building its own legacy across some of the world's most demanding markets, and Brazil is our next chapter. This partnership brings together two stories defined by the same values: earn your place, build trust, and go the distance. By integrating content, culture, and entertainment through Pet TV, we are creating new avenues to connect with our users and support long-term growth across our ecosystem," said William Scott, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Holdings Inc.
Petković arrived in Brazil in 1997 from Real Madrid, in a move that would define his life and career. He spent his prime playing years there, scoring 167 goals across seven clubs including Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, Vitória, Santos, and Atlético Mineiro. He won three Bola de Prata awards as arguably the nation's best midfielder and led Flamengo to the 2009 Brazilian Championship.
His 89th-minute free kick for Flamengo in 2001 remains one of the most celebrated moments in Brazilian club football history. He was inducted into the Maracanã Walk of Fame - one of only three foreigners ever to receive that honor, alongside Eusébio and Franz Beckenbauer - and was named an Honorary Citizen of Rio de Janeiro.
The partnership connects two stories that began in the same place, at the same time: Meridianbet was founded in 2001, the same year Petković's 89th-minute free kick for Flamengo became part of Brazilian football folklore.
"What Meridianbet and I have in common goes beyond business - same generation, same drive to prove something on a world stage, same belief that you have to earn your place. I spent 25 years earning the trust of Brazil - its clubs, its people, its passion. Now, Meridianbet is doing the same. I am proud to be the face of that story," said Dejan Petković.
The announcement follows Meridian Holdings' strongest quarter on record: in Q1 2026, the Company reported revenue of
About Dejan Petković
Dejan Petković was born on September 10, 1972, in Majdanpek, Serbia. He began his professional career at Radnički Niš and went on to play for Red Star Belgrade - European champions in 1991 - before moves to Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Racing Santander. In 1997, he joined Vitória in Brazil, beginning a relationship with the country that would define his career and life. Over more than a decade, he played for Vitória, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, Santos, Atlético Mineiro, and others, accumulating 167 goals and becoming one of the most decorated and beloved foreign players in Brazilian football history. He retired in 2011, has lived in Brazil ever since, and serves as an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Brazil.
About Meridian Holdings Inc.
Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MRDN), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, is an established B2B and B2C gaming technology group operating across 25+ international regulated markets. The Company's B2C division is led by Meridianbet Group, a leading online sports betting and gaming operator founded in 2001 and licensed across Europe, Africa, and South America. Meridian's B2B division - comprising game developer Expanse Studios and iGaming platform GMAG - develops, licenses, and distributes proprietary gaming technology to a global client base. Additional subsidiaries include RKings Competitions (pay-to-enter prize competitions in the UK), MexPlay (regulated online casino in Mexico), and Classics for a Cause (Australia's leading subscription-based digital memberships and trade-promotion lottery). The Company's software automatically declines gaming or redemption requests originating in the United States, in strict compliance with U.S. law.
For more information, visit www.meridian-holdings.com or email ir@meridian-holdings.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or similar expressions, and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expected growth in the Brazilian market, the anticipated benefits of the brand ambassador partnership with Dejan Petković, the expected performance of Petković TV, the Company's business strategy and plans, market opportunity projections, and the Company's financial outlook.
These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: the Company's ability to execute its growth strategy in Brazil and other markets; competitive pressures in the global iGaming and sports betting industry; changes in applicable laws and regulations, including gaming regulations in Brazil and other jurisdictions; the Company's ability to maintain and renew its licenses across regulated markets; macroeconomic conditions and currency fluctuations; the performance of brand ambassador and marketing initiatives; the successful launch and commercial performance of Petković TV; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Meridian Holdings Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Media Contact
Stuart Brown
s.brown@evertisedigital.com
SOURCE: Meridian Holdings Inc.
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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