“We have the clear objective of bringing the Merkur Sun to prominence around the world”

What do you expect to see at ICE 2016?

Mainly, Merkur Gaming expects to see and to participate fully in a truly great gaming exhibition. ICE is the most prestigious gaming show on earth. This year, once again the biggest on record with the event taking up 38,980 square meters of floor space, in 15 of the 20 halls available at the London’s ExCeL Centre. We also fully expect to see more visitors than ever before to our booth (N260) as we reveal our sensational latest products.

What products will you be showcasing at your booth?

With great pride we will give a full European premiere to our Merkurstar cabinet that was such an immediate hit at the recent G2E show in Las Vegas. The name is indeed significant as Merkurstar is just that: our new Star attraction and a product that delivers on every level to provide a fantastic new attraction for international casino operators.

What will be the key trends in the gambling arena in 2016?

This year will undoubtedly see consolidation following the recent period of major merger and acquisition activity. It will also see a period of greater investment by major operators as the economic climate continues to steadily improve. The other constant trend is for innovation, by both manufacturers and operators, as the gaming industry reacts positively to the call for ever greater entertainment as part of the gaming experience.

Will start-ups and small companies be able to survive the wake of mega-mergers? How?

We have to remember that all of the great corporate names on today’s gaming landscape started off as far smaller entities than they are today. It is no different in 2016 as new start-up companies and small operators have the desire and the drive to grow as they achieve commercial success. Merkur Gaming is rapidly becoming seen as what we can call a ‘Tier One’ industry name. That did not happen overnight but rather as the result of many years of experience allied to a great team and the desire to constantly innovate to build success and add value for our customers.

The gaming industry is going through deep changes. Why is it so important to come about with new legislation?

Gaming is part of the wider amusement industry but a segment that, for very good reasons, exists in a highly regulated environment. Gaming creates wealth and employment as well as an entertainment offering for millions around the globe.

Effective legislation is a vital element of the gaming landscape and the fine tuning of legislation is a process that needs to be in tune with the prevailing political and economic climates. Here in Europe, for example, there has been a longstanding call for the harmonization of gaming law across the European member states and positive moves in that direction could only be of benefit to the entire gaming industry. The higher than ever before level of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to limit problem gambling are one very clear example of how the gaming industry works hand in hand with the regulatory authorities on a territory by territory basis.

What are your business targets both in the short and long term? Are millennials one of your target demographics?

The goal for Merkur Gaming is for greater international expansion. We have the products that delivers, we have the team that delivers and we are supported by the full resources of adp Gauselmann; a company with a long and proud history of both success and innovation. We have our new star product: merkurstar and we have the clear objective of bringing the symbol of our company, the Merkur Sun to prominence around the world.