"2025 was a defining year for the Merkur Group – a year of transformation that has set the tone for the decade ahead"

2025 marked a turning point for the Merkur Group, as the company underwent a period of structural transformation while laying the groundwork for long-term growth. Beyond internal change, Merkur’s return to the US market, following regulatory approval in Nevada and the acquisition of Gaming Arts, signaled a decisive step in the company’s international ambitions. 

With expanded creative capabilities, new technological synergies, and a sharpened focus on premium content and innovation, Merkur enters 2026 positioned to scale its presence across key global markets while navigating an industry increasingly shaped by advanced game mechanics, immersive desig Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member of Merkur Gamesn, and artificial intelligence.

In this exclusive interview with Yogonet, Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member of Merkur Games, reflects on the year's milestones, as well as sharing his expectations for 2026.

Looking back at 2025, how would you assess the year for the company? What are some of the major takeaways/highlights, achievements, or lessons learned over the past year?

2025 was a defining year for the Merkur Group – a year of transformation that has set the tone for the decade ahead. The generational shift in our leadership team prompted a strategic realignment across the organisation, and I am proud to say that the new Management Board has quickly come together as a strong, forward-looking unit. Supported by an experienced Supervisory Board, we used the year to critically assess our structures, processes, and market positioning, and to initiate changes that will make us even more successful, agile, and future-ready.

In my division, Merkur Games, we strengthened our organisation by integrating our R&D activities, streamlining development structures, and positioning ourselves more effectively in sales and product organisation. 

Even though we will preserve our German roots, we laid the foundation for stronger international expansion. Securing the Nevada licence, acquiring Gaming Arts, and taking a significant stake in Spintec were true milestones – not only for our growth trajectory but also for the technological and creative capabilities we can now leverage globally.

What truly impressed me throughout this period of change was the spirit of our employees. They embraced new opportunities with openness, curiosity, and remarkable enthusiasm. Ultimately, we all share the same commitment: to deliver exceptional gaming entertainment.

As you noted, this year saw Merkur complete the acquisition of Gaming Arts and regulatory approval in Las Vegas, marking the supplier's formal return to the US. What can you tell us about this milestone, and what role do you anticipate it playing as the company expands beyond European borders?

Re-entering the US market marks one of the most important steps in our recent company history. With the Nevada licence, we now have access to the most influential gaming jurisdiction in the United States – a market with enormous potential for growth and visibility.

Gaming Arts plays a pivotal role in this strategy. With licences in 155 jurisdictions, a strong industry network, and a loyal customer base, the company provides an invaluable platform for expanding our North American footprint. Equally important is the wealth of expertise that Gaming Arts brings to the table: their development hubs in Las Vegas and Australia significantly enhance our creative and technological capacities and open up new possibilities in game design.

We are already seeing strong synergies. Content is being exchanged between our studios, and early collaborative successes are visible – for example, Blueprint titles entering the land-based US market through Gaming Arts for the first time, while Gaming Arts content is simultaneously making its way online via Blueprint.

And this is only the beginning. Beyond the US, Gaming Arts products offer tremendous potential for other international markets where we intend to strengthen or establish our presence.

Which issues would you say dominated the conversation this year? Any specific trends, markets, or technologies that you believe will drive change in 2026?

In 2025, the industry continued to evolve at a rapid pace, driven by players’ expectations for highly engaging, feature-rich content. Mechanics such as Hold-and-Spin, Cash-on-Reels, Perceived Persistence, and diverse bonus functionalities remained extremely popular – and we are seeing increasingly sophisticated combinations of these features to enhance both entertainment value and win potential.

Visual and acoustic quality also continue to rise in importance. Players expect premium graphics, fluid animations, and clear, immersive sound design, and technology is now able to deliver on these expectations at an entirely new level.

Looking ahead to 2026, artificial intelligence will – in addition to powerful technologies such as game engines – play a decisive role in development processes, content creation and technology integration. The momentum in this field is unmistakable – not only in gaming, but in nearly every aspect of modern life.

What can we expect from the company in 2026? What are the main challenges and opportunities you see in the gaming industry in the upcoming 12-month period?

We will start the year with a highlight: our newly designed appearance at ICE. Visitors can expect a completely refreshed exhibition concept that combines innovative products with a vibrant, experience-focused presentation. Alongside outstanding new games and hardware solutions, we will showcase the full strength of the Merkur Group – including our casinos, our ETG portfolio from Spintec, cash management solutions from GeWeTe, and our online gaming and platform companies.

Looking at the year, 2026 will continue to be shaped by transformation. We have launched a wide range of initiatives that we will now expand and implement at speed – from optimising internal structures to advancing our internationalisation strategy.

We will build on the synergies emerging from the integration of Gaming Arts and Spintec, strengthen key markets such as the UK, Spain, and Germany, and introduce our innovations into an increasing number of international casino markets. Our goal is clear: to grow sustainably, expand our global footprint, and continue delivering exceptional gaming entertainment worldwide.