Johann Graf, the founder of Novomatic, pays tribute to Paul Gauselmann by unveiling a sculpture depicting the Roman god Mercury.
Gambling industry pioneer Paul Gauselmann celebrates 90th birthday with Merkur statue gift
In honor of his 90th birthday, industry leader Paul Gauselmann, known for founding the Merkur Group, was celebrated by Prof. Johann Graf, founder of Novomatic AG.
As a token of recognition, Gauselmann, who retired on September 30, was presented with a sculpture of the Roman mythological deity Merkur in the form of a bronze winged figure. This unique gift was presented by Dr. Franz Wohlfahrt, former CEO of Novomatic AG, and was proudly installed on the castle square in his hometown of Espelkamp.
Novomatic founder honors long-term competitor Gauselmann's legacy
Wohlfahrt delivered warm birthday wishes to Gauselmann and wished him well in his new chapter. Gauselmann appreciated the recognition and considered the bronze Merkur sculpture an original and creative gift:
To bestow upon me the gift of a winged Merkur is a brilliant idea that aligns with both the current state of the company and its history.– Paul Gauselmann, former CEO of the Merkur Group, games&business
Until Gauselmann's retirement, both Graf (Novomatic AG) and Gauselmann (Merkur Group) were rivals in the gaming industry. Both companies are involved in the development and distribution of slot machines, as well as the operation of stationary gaming halls in Germany.
Merkur and Novomatic, two giants in the gaming world
Merkur also runs its own betting shops in Germany under the name Merkur Bets and recently opened its first German betting office in Duisburg. Merkur and Novomatic also offer online casinos with German licenses, where German players can legally enjoy online slots.
Both companies have expanded beyond Germany's borders. Novomatic operates gaming halls in over 70 countries, including Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, and the UK. Merkur distributes gaming systems under the Edict eGaming brand, which are used in gaming halls worldwide as well as online casinos.
Merkur and Novomatic join forces in Berlin casino partnership
Despite their rivalry in the gambling market, both companies have collaborated in the past. In 2013, they partnered together and invested in Spielbank Berlin after competing for the opportunity to operate the land-based casino. Merkur took a 40% stake, while Novomatic secured 60%.
In September 2024, Merkur assumed the role of operator of Spielbanken Niedersachsen after over two decades. Merkur now operates the casinos in Hannover, Bad Bentheim, Bad Harzburg, Bad Pyrmont, Osnabrück, Göttingen, Seevetal, and Wolfsburg.
Novomatic records a new high with record annual turnover of 274 million euros
Novomatic AG achieved a record annual profit of 274 million euros in the previous year, representing an increase of 86 million euros from the previous year.
Approximately 65 million euros of the net profit was distributed as dividends. Prof. Johann Graf received the lion's share of 50 million euros, while the remaining dividends were distributed among Graf's sons Thomas and Patrick, along with two other Novomatic AG managers.
After their successful partnership in Spielbank Berlin, [News] surfaced about Merkur taking over as operator of Spielbanken Niedersachsen in September 2024.
Despite their competitive nature in the gambling industry, Novomatic and Merkur have shown unity by collaborating on various projects, such as their investment in Spielbank Berlin.
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