Merkur Casino Gmbh
In 1957, Paul Gauselmann laid the foundation for today’s Gauselmann Group with his part-time work as an independent gaming machine operator. The unique development from one-man operator to an international group is a rare kind of German success story. The professional career path of the businessman born in 1934 in Borghorst near Münster, Germany, began with his training as a telecommunications inspector. His part-time work as a jukebox operator culminated in 1964 in full business independence. Despite considerable workloads, the young entrepreneur still found time for his hobby: tinkering. Amongst other things, he developed a remote selection box for German jukeboxes - the first of his 300 patents to date.
The online casino brand in Germany will sponsor two of the country’s most popular television shows, Celebrity Big Brother and Global Gladiators. Blueprint Gaming offers Merkur content Top-performing games such as Blazing Star and Fishin' Frenzy have been added to Blueprint's catalog.
The Merkur name comes from one of Gauselmann's ventures in 1974 when he opened the first 'Merkur-Spielothek' which is seen by many as the invention of the modern arcade. It is now the largest chain in Germany and is complimented by Merkur Casino with outlets in ten European countries including the Merkur Casino Amsterdam. Merkur Gaming Casino Sites As one of the largest veteran online casino gaming developers, edict egaming launched in Germany in 1998 as an online systems developer for land-based casinos. In 2008, edict was taken over by Merkur Interactive GmbH, which is a subsidiary of the Gauselmann Group.
Merkur Casino International Gmbh
In 1974, Paul Gauselmann opened his first gaming venue in Delmenhorst, Germany, which at the same time was also the first modern venue of its kind. Over the coming decades the CASINO MERKUR-SPIELOTHEK subsidiary became one of the largest national gaming venue chains in Germany. In 1986, the Gauselmann Group opened its first international entertainment centre, in 2005 Merkur Casino GmbH was established to promote the international expansion of gaming venues and in 2014 it changed its name to Casino Merkur International GmbH. Another pioneering invention was the first amusement with prizes(AWP) machine developed and produced in-house by the Gauselmann company, which was brought to market in 1977 under the name ’Merkur B.’ In 2014, the two millionth AWP machine rolled off the production line at the Lübbecke production site.
In 1980, Gauselmann AG was established as a holding company, which offers centralised services for many of the companies established in the meantime. With the establishment of the Atronic subsidiary and entry into the international casino equipment business in 1993, the Gauselmann Group began its global business activities. In May 2008, Atronic came completely under the responsibility of the American lottery system provider GTECH.
Nowadays, the adp Gauselmann GmbH subsidiary with its brand Merkur Gaming is responsible for the development and distribution of entertainment machines with cash prize opportunities, casino slot machines, and video lottery terminals as well as server-based gaming systems for international markets. Another milestone was the certification of adp Gauselmann in accordance with the DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 standard at the end of 2002. As a result, the Gauselmann Group became the first TÜV-certified company in the industry. In 2003, the Gauselmann Großhandel and Merkur Servicegesellschaft segments also received the certification, followed in 2014 by the headquarters of CASINO MERKUR-SPIELOTHEK.
Another important field of business is New Media. This company segment brings together the Group’s activities in the sports betting, Internet-based gaming (online gaming) and financial services in the form of Merkur Interactive GmbH established in 2006.
In 2012, the Gauselmann Group took over the British Praesepe arcade network in the largest acquisition in the Group’s history. Another milestone was the opening of the first casino in Leuna-Günthersdorf (Saxony-Anhalt) in December 2014. The casino is operated by Merkur Spielbanken Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH & Co. KG and its partner, Stadtcasino Baden AG.
The Gauselmann family of entrepreneurs has been devoted to its work in associations for many years. Since 1966, Paul Gauselmann has held leading roles in industry associations; since 1981 till 2019 he was President of the VDAI (German Association of Coin-Op Amusement and Vending Machines). For decades, Paul Gauselmann’s sons have also helped shape the Group’s destiny. Michael Gauselmann, a graduate in business administration, has played a leading role in the company’s international expansion for more than three decades. Beyond that, he also founded the ‘FORUM Junger Automatenunternehmer in Europa e.V.’ (FORUM for young coin-operated machine entrepreneurs in Europe) in 1990, today’s ‘FORUM für Automatenunternehmer in Europa e.V.’ (FORUM for coin-operated machine entrepreneurs in Europe).
Armin Gauselmann, also a graduate in business administration, is the Gauselmann Group’s Director in charge of personnel and real estate. He also oversees the Deutsche Automatenmuseum – Sammlung Gauselmann [German Coin-Op Museum], which was established in 1985 by Michael Gauselmann, and together with Karin Gauselmann he presides over the Paul and Karin Gauselmann Foundation. In his role on the Supervisory Board, Karsten Gauselmann also helps to secure the company’s fortunes. In the 1980s, Peter Gauselmann also worked as a computer scientist in charge of the development of the IT department of today’s BEIT Systemhaus GmbH.
In order to secure the Gauselmann Group’s continued existence as a consolidated entity, the company was transferred into the “Gauselmann Family Foundation” at the beginning of 2016. As a consequence, the members of the entrepreneurial family have incorporated their respective shares into the foundation. The Foundation’s Advisory Board and Board of Directors are made up predominantly of members of the Gauselmann family.
1957: Founded as a sole proprietorship by Paul Gauselmann in the name of Elisabeth Gauselmann
1958: Gebrüder Gauselmann GbR with brother Willi Gauselmann
1962: Gebrüder Gauselmann GmbH with the brothers Paul, Willi and Eugen Gauselmann
The corporate beginnings of Gebrüder Gauselmann GmbH go back tothe sole proprietorship founded by Paul Gauselmann in 1957 in thename of his first wife, Elisabeth Gauselmann. The company was seenright from the beginning as a competent partner for the professionaloperation of amusement machines with and without stakes and prizesin the food and drinks segment. A second company set up in Oelde in1967 specialised in operations in the food and drinks segment underthe management of Eugen Gauselmann, whilst brother Willi was incharge in Espelkamp. Development, retail and production were thesole responsibility of Paul Gauselmann from the 1960s.
1970: Foundation
Gauselmann Großhandel as the sales organisation within adp GauselmannGmbH is the partner of choice in the field of electronic entertainment.Sales are generated throughout Germany via a nationwidenetwork of currently 11 subsidiaries as well as online shops that areaccessible via the adp Internet portal.
1972: Foundation
Research, development, production and sales of games with andfor small amounts of money, as well as amusement and gamingmachines with or without cash prize opportunities, are all united atadp Gauselmann GmbH. adp Gauselmann GmbH was the first companyin the German coin-op machine industry to receive the ISO 9001certification by TÜV Rheinland in 2002. Thus, the company has beendeveloping and manufacturing in compliance with internationallyrecognised quality standards for more than ten years. The companywas also certified within the scope of its environmental managementin accordance with the DIN EN ISO 14001:2004 standard in 2013 andwith the BS OHSAS 18001 standard in 2014, which attest to optimumoccupational health and safety management.
1974: Foundation as CASINO MERKUR-SPIELOTHEK GmbH
2018: Company name changed to MERKUR Casino GmbH
In the arcade segment, MERKUR Casino GmbH is theundisputed market leader in Germany with 300 entertainmentcentres. A stylish atmosphere, innovative products, optimal servicealongside optimally trained staff make MERKUR Casino stand out clearly from the competition and combine to deliver afirst-rate and modern leisure-time activity. Over 750 gaming arcadesoperate according to this recipe for success Europe-wide.
1980: Founded as Zentralverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
1990: Company name changed to Gauselmann AG
Gauselmann AG came into being in 1990 following the change of thecompany name from Zentralverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH that wasfounded in 1980. As the holding company, it unites many of the companieswithin the Gauselmann Group.
1984: Acquisition from Baden-Automaten Derigs GmbH
Schneider Automaten GmbH, based in Cologne, predominantly sellsproducts manufactured by the Gauselmann Group through its nineestablishments. However, the distributor’s portfolio also includesproducts of other well-known manufacturers. The company WalbererAutomaten founded in 1987 was taken over by Schneider Automatenin 2010.
1985: Foundation of Stella International Spielgeräte GmbH
2003: Foundation of MEXIM GmbH & Co. KG
2005: Merger to form Merkur Gaming GmbH
2015: Integration into adp Gauselmann GmbH
The Gauselmann Group has been active in international markets sinceas far back as 1985, firstly as Stella International Spielgeräte GmbHand, from 2003 onwards, through MEXIM GmbH & Co. KG. The companieswere merged in 2005 as part of the realignment of the internationalbusiness activities to form Merkur Gaming GmbH, which sincethen has been responsible for the development and sales of gamingmachines and casino slot machines, as well as video lottery terminals(VLT) and server-based gaming (SBG) systems for the internationalmarkets. The company was organisationally integrated into adpGauselmann GmbH only in 2015. The Merkur Gaming brand name hasbeen retained and constitutes a successful export department withinadp Gauselmann GmbH.
1986: Foundation
Merkur Freizeit Leasing GmbH, as the financial services provider of theGauselmann Group, offers its customers rent, lease and licence modelsthat are optimally adapted to the changing market conditions andthus represent a fair alternative to conventional investment loans. Inaddition to this, Merkur Freizeit Leasing GmbH also includes insurancefor machines in its product portfolio.
1986: First international arcade location is opened
2006: Foundation of Merkur Casino GmbH
2011: Company name changed to Merkur International GmbH
2014: Company name changed to CASINO MERKUR International GmbH
2018: Company name changed to MERKUR Casino International GmbH
The Gauselmann Group opened its first international entertainmentcentre in 1986 in the Netherlands. Merkur Casino GmbH was foundedin 2006 in order to further promote arcade expansion outside of Germany.The company name was changed to MERKUR Casino International GmbH in 2018, which in the meantime operates well in excess of 300 modern entertainment centres in eight European countries.
1987: Founded with son Peter, a graduate IT specialist
As an IT service provider, BEIT GmbH supports and implements all IT systems within the Gauselmann Group. The portfolio covers the complete life cycle of an IT application, from project planning and implementation to system operation.
Since 1988: Cooperation
MEGA Spielgeräte GmbH is a highly regarded specialist in developingjackpot systems, multigame lines and games with additional stakes.Manufacturing of the products developed in Limburg is carried outexclusively and in accordance with ISO 9001 standards at the adpGauselmann GmbH plant in Lübbecke.
1991: Foundation
Merkur Immobilien und Beteiligungs GmbH plans, builds and administers real estate for the entire Gauselmann Group. This includesproduction, logistics, service and event areas, shops and flats as wellas the exclusive training centre Schloss Benkhausen with museum and hotel. The subsidiary company managed a total of 130 real estateprojects with an acquisition value in excess of 250 million euros in the 2016 business year.
1993: Foundation
GeWeTe Geldwechsel- und Sicherheitstechnik GmbH specialises in thedevelopment and production of money-changing machines and paystations. By virtue of its innovative products the company has been arecognised market leader in the arcade segment for many years.
2000: Foundation
adp Merkur Service, as the service provider of the Gauselmann Group, offers its customers a diverse choice of services. Alongside maintenance and support of coin-op AWPs, an extensive range of accessoriesas well as numerous workshops and seminars are offered.
1885: Foundation
2001: Acquisition
HESS Cash Systems GmbH from Magstadt is a leading specialist for money-processing system solutions with a wealth of experience gathered from entrepreneurial activities spanning 130 years. This traditional company develops, produces and sells hardware and software solutions for cash-handling and payment systems for banks, local authorities, public amenities and retail companies.
2002: Cooperation
2017: Integration into adp Gauselmann GmbH
adp Gauselmann GmbH develops money gaming machines for the German market at its Euskirchen location under the Kaiser Spiele brand and concentrates primarily on hybrid machines that combine mechanical rollers with a digital display. The equipment is manufactured exclusively at the adp Gauselmann GmbH plant in Lübbecke in accordance with ISO 9001 standards.
1996: Foundation
2005: Shareholding
2014: Full acquisition
Cashpoint Agentur & IT-Service GmbH has been active in the sports betting market since 1996. The Gauselmann Group acquired a controlling share of the Austrian company in 2005 and completely integrated it into the corporate group in 2014. Alongside licensed Internet platforms, Cashpoint operates more than 5,000 betting outlets internationally in the form of betting shops, kiosk systems and self-service terminals under the brand names Cashpoint, XTiP and Betcenter.
2006: Foundation
Merkur Interactive GmbH, founded in 2006, is responsible withinthe Gauselmann Group for developing new business segments. This currently encompasses the segments online gaming and financial services.
1998: Foundation
2008: Acquisition
edict eGaming GmbH is the specialist for online gaming platforms within the Gauselmann Group and focuses on the development and technical operation of online casino solutions and system platforms forthe gaming sector as well as marketing games on a global basis. The Hamburg-based company is a subsidiary of Merkur Interactive GmbH and has been a part of the Gauselmann Group since 2008.
2001: Foundation
2008: Shareholding
2012: Full acquisition
In 2008, the Gauselmann Group purchased a 50 per cent controlling share in Blueprint Gaming, a multiplatform developer for digital games. Since 2012, the group has been the sole shareholder of Blueprint Gaming with locations in the UK and USA.
Merkur Casino Gmbh Xing
2010: Foundation of Merkur Gaming Espania S.L.
2012: Expansion of business operations with the acquisition of Dosniha Gaming S.L.
2015: Company name changed to Merkur Dosniha S.L.
The Spanish company Merkur Dosniha S.L. is responsible for the sale of multigamers in Spain for the Gauselmann Group. As well as its headquarters in Mallorca, the company has two branch offices in Murcia and Madrid as well as two logistics centres in Murcia and Barcelona. The company also has its own development capacities: Merkur Dosniha S.L. adapts the Merkur games to the requirements of the Spanish market and the preferences of players there.
2007: Foundation
2012: Acquisition
The British arcade chain Praesepe has been part of the Gauselmann Group since 2012 and since then has grown as a result of additional acquisitions. With a transaction volume of around 150 million euros, these takeovers are considered the largest acquisition in the history of the corporate group. The Praesepe Group owns 183 entertainment centres and bingo clubs, which now also increasingly offer games from the Gauselmann think tank.
2012: Foundation
Merkur Gaming India PVT Ltd. was founded in 2012 as a subsidiary of adp Gauselmann GmbH and has since been responsible for programming and mathematics of various games. In addition to traditional slotmachine games, Merkur Gaming India PVT Ltd. also develops mobile applications such as apps, and ports slots to online platforms. There search and development centre focuses on games-related IT and software development. Merkur Gaming India Pvt Ltd. collaborates closely with the Indian subsidiary, Lucky Nugget Gaming Pvt. Ltd.
2013: Acquisition
The Indian game design studio Lucky Nugget Gaming Pvt. Ltd. has been part of the Gauselmann Group since 2013. The research and development centre is principally responsible for game design –from developing new ideas, via audiovisual implementation, to the finished game. Lucky Nugget Gaming Pvt. Ltd. works hand in hand with the parent, Merkur Gaming India Pvt. Ltd.
1998: Foundation of Sceptre Leisure PLC
2013: Shareholding
2015: Acquisition
2015: Company name changed to Regal Gaming and Leisure
(AWP) machines from the UK. The company plays a predominant role particularly in the UK food and drinks sector. The Gauselmann Group invested in a shareholding in Regal Gaming and Leisure in 2013 andthen acquired the business in 2015 to increase its market presence yet further in the UK market and successfully place its own products in the most sought-after pub segment.
2013: Foundation as Merkur Spielbanken Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH & Co. KG
2016: Shareholding in Spielbank Berlin as co-partner
2016: Foundation of Merkur Casino Ltd. (CASINO MERKUR MARE brand)
The Gauselmann Group has been active in the casino segment since 2013. In December 2014, Merkur Spielbanken Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH & Co. KG and its partner Stadtcasino Baden AG from Switzerland were granted the licence to operate public casinos in Saxony-Anhalt and today operate three proprietary casinos in Leuna, Magdeburg and Halle (Saale). Furthermore, since 2016, the Gauselmann Group has been a co-partner in Spielbank Berlin. This was followed in 2019 by shares in Spielbank Mainz GmbH & Co. KG and its general partner, Spielbank Mainz Beteiligungs GmbH.
2016: Foundation Merkur Casino Ltd. (Brand CASINO MERKUR MARE)
CASINO MERKUR MARE is part of the Gauselmann Group’s gaming operations, and has been running casinos on cruise ships operated by the Spanish company Pullmantur Cruceros since late 2016. The Gauselmann Group has also established a partnership with TUI Cruises. A CASINO MERKUR MARE opened on the new TUI Cruises ship ‘Mein Schiff 1’ in 2018, followed in January 2019 by the second CASINO MERKUR MARE on the new ‘Mein Schiff 2’ in the TUI Cruises fleet.
2008: Foundation
2014: Full Acquisition
The Gauselmann Group acquired another British gaming software company through the acquisition of Betcom Limited in 2014. Betcom Limited has made a name for itself in the fields of game development and game design and markets diverse games for reel-based machines and multigamers.
2014: Shareholding
Acquisition of a majority shareholding in the payment services company Euro Payment Group GmbH (EPG) in 2014 paved the way to the Gauselmann Group’s entry into the financial services business segment. EPG, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is active worldwide in the fields of online payment, mobile payment and gateway services.
2015: Foundation
Merkur Interactive Services GmbH (MIS) consolidates online gaming business for the merkurmagic.es, cashino.com and merkur-win.it brands, with respect to sales, marketing, media and customer care activities in the online segment. As well as developing its own structure and implementing uniform processes, the existing national subsidiaries in the online gaming segment are being integrated into MIS.
2015: Foundation
Merkur Sportwetten GmbH consolidates the entire national and international sports betting business of the Gauselmann Group. This includes the offering and brokering of sports bets (in shops, online and mobile) under the brands Cashpoint (Austria and Denmark) and XTiP (Germany) as well as serving other international markets.
1996: Foundation
2016: Shareholding
msp consolidates the Gauselmann Group’s offering for the catering sector and is one of the leading vending machine operators in this segment Germany-wide. Headquartered in Essen, the company offers its customers top-quality machines and extensive services, such as individual set-up concepts and the planning of conversions, as well as property brokering. Moreover, msp holds 51% of the shares in Hartmann GmbH, a vending machine operator for truck stops and service areas.
2006: Foundation
2016: Shareholding
Royal Casino DGS GmbH with headquarters in Espelkamp operates around 40 arcades across Germany with a staff of 300. The Gauselmann Group has held 50 per cent of the company’s shares since 2016.
1992: Foundation
2019: Acquisition
With the acquisition of Totolotek S.A., the Gauselmann Group also entered the Polish market in 2019. The renowned sports betting provider based in Warsaw is expanding the sports betting business of the Gauselmann Group under the umbrella of Merkur Sportwetten GmbH. Totolotek has been firmly established in the Polish sports betting market since 1992 and is one of the three leading omni-channel betting companies in Poland. It markets its diverse range of sports betting services both stationary and online via its homepage and mobile app.
2005: Foundation
2018: Participation by Merkur Sportwetten GmbH
2020: Increased participation by Merkur Sportwetten GmbH
With the partial purchase of the Betcenter Group N.V., Merkur Sportwetten GmbH will enter the sports betting business in Belgium in 2018. At the beginning of 2020, the stake was even increased to 74.9 percent. With almost 90 points of sale, both in betting stores and kiosks, as well as an extensive online sports betting offer, Betcenter is the second largest sports betting provider and broker in Belgium.
2011: Foundation
2020: Participation
At the beginning of 2020, the Gauselmann Group acquires the dominant majority stake in the British development studio Bede Gaming Ltd. The company, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, develops and distributes online gaming platforms for operators of casino, sports betting and/or lottery offers. Bede Gaming is also a key partner of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), one of the largest lotteries in the world.