THE INTERVIEW – MERKUR
something that you also look into. Yes, we grow organically and by acquisitions. “We increase our network of our own studios. That is one by building them up by ourselves. If there’s a chance for a little company, which is a studio of its own, and they want to find a home. Of course we are interested to help them, because it’s risky for these companies always to get the to get the funds or the orders to, to really to do what they would like to do, because the development nowadays is very, very cost intensive. All what you see, you can imagine, even with all the modern tools, it still costs time and money. Small companies sometimes need a big brother. That’s where Merkur comes in.
Michael Gauselmann
Michael Gauselmann dispels charm talking about MERKUR’s new goals.
Board of the MERKUR GROUP, following the company’s G2E media gathering on the eve of the Las Vegas event, where the German gaming industry giant presented US developer Gaming Arts, after completion of full acquisition, Robert Ziems, CEO of Gaming Arts, as well as new executives, including Günter Blümel as Acting Head of Product to lead global product strategy and strengthen Merkur Games division, and Marcel Heutmekers as Senior Vice President Merkur Games International. In is usual jovial style, Michael Gauselmann answered questions from Ricki Chavez-Munoz, Managing Editor, Casino International Americano.
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Ricki: Hi Michael, congratulations on getting back your Nevada manufacturers licence, which added to full acquisition of Gaming Arts gives Merkur Group a huge footprint in US gambling jurisdictions. Do you have any more acquisition plans? Michael Gauselmann: “For Merkur it’s always an option to push its growth by acquisitions. Because what we’ve seen in this show is that the development of studio animation in gaming machines is really, really very strong. And as MERKUR is looking to be one of the very strongest companies in the world, maybe this is
8 NOVEMBER 2025
e had the good fortune of talking to Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Supervisory
Ricki: Yes. I was very impressed with your presentation on Monday and the way you understand slot players. Do you have casino slot operations experience? Michael: “Yes. Bad ones. No, it’s some 30 years ago, my father decided we should go into the casino business. But the way I approached it at that time was the wrong way. So, we lost a lot of money. I got my bloody nose, and I said this was the wrong approach. So, we waited a couple of years, and now we are back. And now we are the biggest casino operator in Germany. And I want to grow this, that’s land based casinos and slots”.
Ricki: Yes. Do you think that you will be extending those operations further if you had the chance? Michael: “Once we have achieved our goals in Europe. Yes. But the focus at the moment is Europe, because there are many countries with interesting casino markets. We would like to get in like UK or France. Once we have achieved that, which takes a bit of time, then of course, if there’s an opportunity overseas with a stable legal environment, then we would go there”.
Ricki: Fabulous. Now, as Latin American media expert, it was good to see that Marcel Heutmekers as a new Senior Vice President Merkur Games. Owing to his experience in the region. Will Marcel look after Latin America, especially? Michael: “No, he will be responsible for all international markets for all. But of course, we have a good footprint already in the in Latin America or South America, including Mexico. Of course, the focus will be there to increase our footprint there, but there are so many other markets, and he has experience in other markets as well”.
Ricki: Michael, what are your plans for Brazil if they approve casino gaming? Michael: “To be honest, I’ve not thought
about it. On the Supervisory Board level, we don’t go into such detail. It’s up to Lars Felderhoff and his team to watch what’s going on and approach the supervisory board when a strategic decision has to be made. I’m sure they have all the information and are watching the developments in Brazil. But this is a country which had gaming before and then gaming was banned. So, with this country, I am very careful. I don’t want to go into a country and spend millions and millions and three years later because change of government or whatever. No, no, no, we don’t want you anymore”.
Ricki: On the matter Brazil casino of legislation, it has already been passed by the Lowe House and also by Commissions in the Senate, and it just needs Senate Plenary voting, after it was postponed in July. I’ve just been told that the Senate will vote the casino law before the end of the year. And they need that step to approve full casino legislation, but obviously, like you say, unless everything is right and proper, it’s not right. Michael: “Yeah, but there’s another reason why I’m not so interested in the market, even if it’s huge. Because first we have to get better in the markets where we are in. This is the focus because these markets we understand and when we grow. It was five years later, and we had already some more successes in Latin America and whatever. And then Brazil would open. I said, listen guys, we have the experience now, let’s go into this new market. But at the moment I would be very, very careful, would not be my focus”.
Ricki: Thank you. Michael. Anything else you’d like to add about this show, for instance? Michael: “Oh, I’d love to. As I told you, this is my first show since 2007, in the Americas, and I love it. Of course, it’s a bit of overwhelming information. And it’s the second day always. It always happens to me. I got a bit frustrated because you are excited about your own product so much, but the second day you look around and said, oh shit, the others also are doing really good things in the last 12 months. Have you the right development strategy? But when I woke up this morning my doubts have vanished and my positive energy and my confidence in our game design was back. I can now visit the competitors in a relaxed way and can give honest feedback to them about what they have on display - positive one as well critical. And of course I will not miss the chance to learn from it.”
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