Merkur Group set to acquire White Hat Studios

• Merkur Group and White Hat Gaming have reached a deal for the acquisition of White Hat Studios
• The German buyer has been looking to expand and consolidate its presence in North America
• As recently as last September, Merkur Group acquired Gaming Arts, a Nevada-based supplier

Merkur Group has said that it will be acquiring games provider White Hat Studios, with the exact financial parameters of the deal not disclosed to the public.

Merkur Group to become new owner of White Hat Studios

The acquisition significantly strengthens Merkur Group’s standing in the iGaming sector, with a particular focus on the United States, where White Hat Studios is primarily operating and delivering some of the market’s most prominent and worthwhile games.

White Hat Studios was launched in 2021 following a deal with Blueprint Gaming, which saw White Hat Gaming, the parent company, buy out the studio’s games and RGS technology, thus establishing a solid foundation for the freshly launched studio at the time.

"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," said Merkur Group Chair Michael Gauselmann.

Under the stewardship of Andy Whitworth, a White Hat Gaming veteran himself, the studio was able to significantly and quickly expand its clout in the United States and continued to perform strongly by delivering ground-breaking games that have innovated the landscape and adjusted what players may expect from studios to deliver in the US iGaming landscape.

Whitworth was himself pleased with the development: "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."

Merkur Group, a German-based operator that runs both land-based and online sports betting options in Europe, has been looking to actively expand in the United States.

The German gaming powerhouse sharpens focus on the US

The company said that it was looking to further accelerate its US growth and to build on its existing operational capacity by tapping into White Hat Studios’ expertise and extensive resources.

This is not the first time the company has resorted to a mergers-and-acquisitions strategy in order to strengthen its regional footprint, after the company confirmed in September that it will be buying out Gaming Arts, a supplier based in Nevada.

"Working alongside the hugely experienced Merkur team will open new possibilities for us across igaming and enhance our ability to develop a world-class omnichannel proposition that will benefit both operators and players," Whitworth added.

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