Lübbecke, Germany. Merkur Gaming US, a subsidiary of the German-based Merkur Group, has been granted a license to manufacture and distribute its gaming products in the state of Nevada – thereby gaining access to one of the leading casino markets in the United States.

In addition, the Nevada Gaming Commission has approved Merkur’s acquisition of Gaming Arts LLC, a licensed Nevada-based gaming operator headquartered in Las Vegas and a trusted strategic partner of the German gaming specialist. It is anticipated that the transaction will close in early Q3 2025.

"This license represents a key strategic lever for expanding our international business and lay the foundation for a stable and successful long-term future for the entire Group," says Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Management Board of the Merkur Group.

The U.S. gaming market is not uncharted territory for the Merkur Group: the family-owned company was first awarded the coveted Nevada license back in 1998 but withdrew from the U.S. market in the early 2000s. Now, with its international sales and development brand Merkur Gaming, the Group has once again garnered the approval from Nevada regulators to return as an experienced and welcome participant in the market.

Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Merkur Group, is delighted, as it was under his leadership that Merkur was granted the license for the first time: “With approval from Nevada, this moment serves to highlight and underscore the Merkur Group's legally compliant and forward-looking approach in all areas without exception.” With the words "Welcome back to the industry," the Nevada Gaming Commission sent off the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board – wishing them a successful future.

In addition to obtaining the license, the approval for the acquisition of Gaming Arts LLC represents another pivotal key element for the Merkur Group in officially re-entering the North American market as a certified manufacturer. The two companies have enjoyed a trusted strategic partnership that has already yielded mutually beneficial synergies. After thorough preparation, this collaboration will soon culminate in the acquisition by the Merkur Group. “The close and constructive partnership with Gaming Arts LLC has significantly contributed over the past months to successfully establishing all necessary prerequisites for the licensing as well as the upcoming acquisition,” explains Felderhoff. "We are deeply grateful for the excellent cooperation."

Applying for the Nevada license was a logical step in the Merkur Group’s intensified international expansion strategy. "Business conditions in our home market, Germany, have become increasingly challenging due to tightening regulatory frameworks. Nevertheless, together with the entire industry, we remain confident in the long-term prospects of the German gaming market," explains Felderhoff. "Our many years of experience and our sustained success provide a solid foundation for intensifying our focus on international gaming markets and establishing the Merkur brand abroad." The company has already achieved this in various European markets and across South America over the past decades. "Our re-entry into the North American casino market will significantly accelerate the international growth of the Merkur Group and place it on an even more solid footing," Felderhoff concludes.

David Colvin, owner of Gaming Arts, LLC commented about today’s events: “We congratulate Merkur for achieving this outstanding milestone and we welcome them to the state of Nevada”.

About the Merkur Group

The Merkur Group is a family-owned, internationally operating corporate group in the entertainment and leisure industry, headquartered in Espelkamp and Lübbecke (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). For almost 70 years, the Group has been developing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative games and gaming machines, state-of-the-art applications, and system solutions as well as cash management systems. In addition, the Merkur Group operates gaming arcades, casinos, including casinos aboard on cruise ships, and is active in the fields of sports betting and online gaming. In 2023, the Merkur Group generated a consolidated annual turnover of approximately EUR 3.9 billion with a global workforce of nearly 15,000 employees.

About Gaming Arts

Gaming Arts, LLC is an award-winning end-to-end gaming equipment technology provider of electronic gaming machines, electronic table games, bingo, keno, and emerging technologies. Gaming Arts is privately owned and operated, with its business headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is licensed in over 155 jurisdictions.