Merkur Group has formally announced its plans to acquire the slot machine provider White Hat Studios, a deal revealed on Wednesday.
This acquisition, pending regulatory approvals, is positioned by Merkur as a means to significantly enhance its expansion efforts in the United States, building on its previous acquisition of Nevada-licensed Gaming Arts in 2025.
Importantly, the White Hat Gaming platform and white label businesses will not be part of this transaction and will continue under their present ownership.
The overarching goal of this acquisition is to empower the expanded group to advance its operational partners' growth objectives. In addition, it provides White Hat Studios with the necessary expertise and resources to push the limits of its slot offerings and broaden its omnichannel services.
Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Merkur, expressed enthusiasm regarding this acquisition, referring to it as part of their online growth strategy. "Having made early inroads into the online space in Europe via our Blueprint acquisition in 2012, I am delighted by this latest development and am confident that White Hat Studios will be a great addition to our group," he stated.
The sentiment of growth was echoed by Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, who noted White Hat Studios’ impressive trajectory since its inception. "We look forward to working with the team to continue the US success story and, in turn, Merkur’s expansion in regulated iGaming," he added.
Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, also highlighted the positive implications of the acquisition, emphasizing its potential to accelerate the firm's long-term growth plans. "Joining Merkur Group is an exciting moment for everyone associated with White Hat Studios and, fundamentally, it is the best possible move to realize our ambitions for future growth and product innovation," he remarked. He welcomed the partnership with Merkur, stating that it opens avenues for enhanced development across the iGaming sector, ultimately benefiting both operators and players.
