“Online gaming allows Merkur the chance to enter new markets”

How was the ICE experience and what was the feedback you received from both customers and attendees?

The ICE Totally Gaming exhibition is one of the most important shows in the gaming industry. For us as a manufacturer it is therefore key to be internationally present here and display the latest highlights of the Merkur think tank. So we clearly demonstrated at ICE the development potential that Merkur Gaming has and what the Gauselmann Group as a whole has to offer. We were able to bring back numerous impressions, positive feedback and input from our customers and business partners from London. Now is the time to implement these.

Which product was the star of the show?

At ICE we introduced several new machines and game packages with new features. A total of eleven different cabinets were on display. I think in the casino market the most popular product of our company at the moment is the Highflyer. But Merkur Gaming also focuses on pin-sharp images and game animations in exquisite quality in the new cabinets Avantgarde SLT and Ozone. The technology provides a gaming experience in HD as well as with excellent acoustics. The ergonomics have been made even better for players and operators benefit from the technical enhancements.

What’s the brand’s main focus for the current year?

The main focus in the near future will relate to the thorough increase and optimization concerning the market cultivation in the international and regulated markets that we are already active in. The core markets are here Europe, Africa and South America among others. The business activities of Merkur Gaming will be predominantly determined in the medium term in laying the foundations for establishing market entry in North America.

Merkur Gaming’s philosophy is all about offering choice. Merkur Gaming recognizes that players have different needs and aspirations when playing and our extremely wide range of cabinets reflects this. It goes without saying that Merkur Gaming has several R&D offices spread around the world so as to be able to best cater to regional requirements. Merkur Gaming has the strategy, structure and financial strength to be able to invest in the future.

Online gaming was a highlight at ICE, how important is this segment for Merkur?

The field of online gaming offers us on the one hand the chance to enter new markets and on the other hand the possibility to introduce a new generation of players at legal age to land-based gaming. Continual growth was observed in this sector in the past years with increasingly global working conditions. More and more countries are regulating the online gaming sector. Online gaming with and for money has developed into an important industry as a consequence of demographic change and altered user behavior due to the mobilization of society – yet this is not in competition with land-based gaming. On the contrary - this development offers us the chance to gain additional target groups.