Merkur Group Merkur Group (Gauselmann)
A gaming company founded in Germany in 1957 by Paul Gauselmann, renamed from "Gauselmann Group" to "Merkur Group" in 2024. It makes German arcade gaming machines, operates about 800 Merkur arcades, and also supplies online slots.
| English | Merkur Group (Gauselmann) |
|---|---|
| Classification | Providers |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder | Paul Gauselmann |
| Headquarters | Espelkamp and Luebbecke, Germany |
| Name change | 2024, Gauselmann Group → Merkur Group |
| Employees | About 15,000 (2025) |
| Revenue | About 2.1 billion euros (2025) |
| Arcades | About 800 Merkur arcades |
| Business | Gaming machine manufacturing, arcade and casino operation, online games, sports betting |
| Flagship games | Triple Chance, Magic Mirror, Blazing Star |
| Official site | merkur.group |
Overview
Merkur Group is a gaming company founded in Germany in 1957 by Paul Gauselmann. It was long known as the “Gauselmann Group” and was renamed Merkur Group in early 2024 after its flagship brand. Its headquarters are in Espelkamp and Lübbecke in northwestern Germany.
As of 2025, it employs about 15,000 people and has revenue of about 2.1 billion euros. Together with Novomatic, it leads the arcade machine market in Germany. Founder Paul Gauselmann stepped down from management in October 2024.
History
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Paul Gauselmann starts out installing and operating jukeboxes |
| 1974 | The first Merkur arcade opens |
| 1977 | The first “Merkur” brand gaming machine is approved |
| 1991 | Revenue passes 1 billion marks |
| 2012 | Acquires the UK arcade chain Praesepe |
| 2013 | Enters the casino business |
| 2017 | Cumulative production of Merkur-brand machines passes 2 million units |
| 2020 | Acquires a stake in the UK online gaming technology company Bede Gaming |
| 2024 | Renamed Merkur Group |
| 2025 | Acquires a casino in Lower Saxony, Germany, and acquires Gaming Arts in the US |
Business model
- Machine manufacturing – slot machines for German arcades (adp Merkur and others)
- Arcade operations – about 800 Merkur arcades across Germany, plus arcades in the UK
- Casinos – expanding its casino business, including acquiring German public casinos
- Online – German online casino brands such as Merkur Slots, Slotmagie and Jackpotpiraten, plus sports betting
Features of Merkur games
Merkur games have developed to fit German arcade regulations. German arcade machines are limited by law in round duration, maximum bet and maximum loss, so simple structures, a fast pace and risk game (gamble) features became central. Games like “Triple Chance,” “Magic Mirror” and “Blazing Star” are familiar to German players.
German online slots have rules such as a 1 euro bet limit and a 5-second spin interval, plus a bet tax, so the RTP of German versions of games is often set lower than in other countries (Germany GGL, RTP versions).
Headquarters
Merkur Group is headquartered in Espelkamp, Germany.