...and not only in the development of gaming machines and the associated games, but also in its numerous sponsoring activities. The promotion of sports, social issues and culture has always been a major concern for the East Westphalian family-owned company with its well-known MERKUR holding brand. Many regional amateur clubs as well as numerous
professional clubs
from a wide variety of sports can rely on the support from MERKUR. And that also and especially in difficult times! Another business area of the MERKUR GROUP is the operation of the "MERKUR Casino" gaming venues in Germany and other European countries. In addition to these, three well-known
sports venues
also bear the name of the group of companies, first and foremost the “MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA” in Düsseldorf.
Location: Düsseldorf
capacity: 54.500 seats
use: Soccer and multifunctional
Location: Lübbecke
capacity: 3.030 seats
use: handball stadium and district gymnasium
Together with other well-known East Westphalian companies, the MERKUR GROUP is financially and ideally committed to the long-term preservation and re-establishment of the DSC Arminia Bielefeld soccer club in the so-called “Bündnis OWL”.
The strong connection to the region is also reflected in the new name "OWL Arena" of the stadium in Halle/Westphalia, the venue of the globally renowned ATP 500 tennis tournament. Together with twelve other well-known companies from East Westphalia, the MERKUR GROUP is participating in the new sponsorship concept to secure the future of the arena and the events.
Allowing their region to share in the company's success is a matter close to the hearts of the entire Gauselmann family. In addition to numerous amateur clubs, the Paul and Karin Gauselmann Foundation continuously supports a wide variety of social, cultural, sports and health projects.
The MERKUR Gauselmann e. V. company sports association has also been supported by the entrepreneurial family for more than 30 years. With around 1,000 members in 21 different disciplines, it is one of the largest company sports associations in North Rhine-Westphalia. The representatives of the individual divisions have already shone in numerous competitions and tournaments. The soccer players even became world champions in the small field in 2018.
As a technology company that is also active in sports betting and online gaming, the MERKUR GROUP also knows how to ensure integrity and further development in digital sports. For example, the company has been involved in e-sports since the beginning of 2020, offering the German and European community real added value with a new tournament series in the game "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive".
The MERKUR Masters brings the competition of the best German teams in the game "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" (CS:GO) to the stage. Via the "Open Qualifier" and "Closed Qualifier", each team can play its way onto the big stage of the offline finals. Not only will the German CS:GO crown be at stake, but also prize money totaling 100,000 euros spread over two seasons.
Music also plays an important role in the company's history. For example, company founder Paul Gauselmann set up jukeboxes at the beginning of his part-time self-employment in the 1950s. Later, the company switched to gaming: in 1974, the entrepreneur opened his first own gaming venue before launching the first slot machine in 1977, thus laying another cornerstone for today's MERKUR GROUP with almost 15,000 employees worldwide and a turnover of over 2,5 billion euros. Today, the company is still involved in the field of music. Among the major events sponsored by the MERKUR GROUP is the PAROOKAVILLE festival and the World Club Dome.
In 2023, the MERKUR GROUP was a partner of the PAROOKAVILLE festival for the first time. With 225,000 citizens, PAROOKAVILLE is the largest electronic music festival in Germany. On around 120 square meters, the MERKUR CLUB CASINO offers festival visitors a comprehensive range of entertainment and slot machines for gaming fun in between - just for fun! Casino feeling in the middle of the unique PAROOKAVILLE atmosphere - only the MERKUR CLUB CASINO can do that!
Three days, 100,000 people and the best DJ's in the world - the World Club Dome is the biggest party in the world. As a partner of the event, the MERKUR GROUP offers guests a unique 140 square meter MERKUR Club Casino and further entertainment in the VIP and backstage area for a very special gaming experience.
