International Gaming Giant Secures U.S. Slot Provider to Boost Multi-State Omni-Channel Portfolio
International gaming titan Merkur Group has entered into an agreement to acquire market-leading slots provider White Hat Studios. The transaction marks a major milestone in Merkur’s ongoing U.S. expansion strategy, equipping the division with an established library of high-performing, online-first slot games to deploy across the country’s regulated iGaming states.
Through this acquisition, White Hat Studios will gain access to Merkur’s extensive operational resources and technical expertise, allowing the studio to accelerate its product roadmap and scale its omni-channel delivery systems.
Driving Omni-Channel Synergies in the Regulated U.S. Market
The integration of White Hat Studios directly complements Merkur Group’s recent takeover of Gaming Arts, an established slot machine and game supplier licensed in Nevada. By pairing Gaming Arts’ physical casino footprint with White Hat’s proven digital-first slot portfolio, the expanded Merkur Group is positioned to offer a comprehensive, unified omni-channel ecosystem to operators.
White Hat Studios Corporate Profile
| Attribute | Operational Details & Market Scope |
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Regulatory Reach | Active across all 7 regulated U.S. iGaming states |
| Flagship Games | 7s Fire Blitz™ game series |
| Proprietary Tech | Jackpot Royale™ progressive network |
| Content Specialty | ‘House of Brands’ licensed IP slot portfolio |
| Exclusions | White Hat Gaming platform & white-label divisions |
Executive Commentary: Future Growth and Global Integration
Leaders from both companies expressed confidence that merging Merkur’s deep global experience with White Hat’s specialized U.S. market position will benefit operators and players alike.
Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, highlighted the commercial benefits of joining Merkur’s global brand:
“Joining Merkur Group is an exciting moment for everyone associated with White Hat Studios and, fundamentally, it is the best possible move to realise our ambitions for future growth and product innovation. Working alongside the hugely experienced Merkur team will open new possibilities for us across iGaming and enhance our ability to develop a world-class omni-channel proposition that will benefit both operators and players.”
Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, discussed the ongoing U.S. expansion narrative:
“White Hat Studios has delivered impressive growth since its launch. We look forward to working with the team to continue the U.S. success story and, in turn, Merkur’s expansion in regulated iGaming.”
Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board, added:
“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.”
