60 Years of Gauselmann Celebrated: A Massive Event with 2600 Attendees
Gauselmann's rise started in 1957 with 17 music machines, eventually evolving into an empire comprising 30 subsidiaries and around 11,000 staff. Founder Paul Gauselmann commemorated this achievement with a multi-day anniversary bash, featuring musical performances from David Garret and the band PUR.
For the 50th-anniversary fete, Gauselmann and organizer Nils Vormann decided to stage the next event at the company's Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia headquarters in 2015. A three-day festival was planned, with public tours of the business site. Over 2,500 guests accepted the invitation and checked out the specially erected tent town. The space had been reserved a year in advance with the intention of showing guests, "where we came from and how we grew."
Among the festival's attractions were an exhibition area where the subsidiaries displayed their products, play stations, and a 1950s-inspired restaurant. A Ferris wheel provided a bird's-eye perspective of the entire site.
Event emcee Jan Hofer, editor-in-chief of Tagesschau news program, welcomed the guests. Musical entertainment included the Hermes House Band, PUR rockers, and star violinist David Garrett, who came with a 40-piece orchestra to perform excerpts from his latest work.
Gauselmann himself took the stage to revisit the company's history and announcing a surprising revelation. Lukas Podolski, former Bundesliga professional, was appointed the new marketing ambassador. Podolski, currently based in Japan, appeared via a live connection to announce his willingness to represent the brand starting in 2018. Senior figures in politics and business were also present. Attendees included fashion entrepreneurs Gerhard and Ralf Weber along with Hermann Gärtner from PORTA Möbel and Garrelt Duin, former North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Economic Affairs.
Remarkable Growth
Known for their slot machines and Merkur gaming arcades, the Gauselmann Group brings in an annual revenue of about 1.5 billion euros. Yet, they began modestly. Paul Gauselmann, once a telecommunications engineer, commenced his "gamemaking" journey in 1957 as a part-time jukebox operator. Slot machines were first introduced in 1977 when Gauselmann launched the "Merkur B". Paul Gauselmann still recounts the Merkur B's early success: "'It achieved twice the gaming volume of the competition's machines."
Three years prior to the Merkur B launch, Gauselmann established his first Merkur Spielothek in Delmenhorst, marking the beginnings of a significant expansion. Now with more than 400 gaming facilities across Europe and over two million gaming machines produced, Espelkamp's headquarters remains the company's largest branch. The family-owned business employs around 6,000 people. Gauselmann's son and grandchildren hold management roles in the company that's a significant employer in NRW.
The gambling industry is not without its controversies, having been investigated for party donations and suspected dealings with competitors. The most heated criticism centers on the fast-paced nature of modern slot machines, where a single round can be completed within 2.5 seconds with limited opportunity for reflection. Despite these concerns, the founder refuses responsibility: "It's not about me, but about those with the mindset to squander." In a talk show interview, Gauselmann admitted if more citizens were afflicted by addiction, he'd close his operations; however, he has no plans to do so soon. Currently, 600 employees are dedicated to developing new games.
Gauselmann's journey to success began with a $100,000 loan. He claimed, "I've never bet everything on a single card since, but my business relies heavily on risk-taking." The company's growth from a small music machine distributor to a global phenomenon speaks volumes about his daring enterprise.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
