Merkur Group to Acquire White Hat Studios

Strategic Acquisition Accelerates U.S. Growth

Merkur Group has reached an agreement to acquire White Hat Studios, marking another significant step in its expansion strategy across the regulated U.S. gaming market. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Merkur’s online gaming capabilities while broadening its omni-channel offering through one of the country's fastest-growing slots providers.

Since launching in 2021, White Hat Studios has established itself as a major force in U.S. iGaming, becoming the first supplier to launch online slot content across all seven regulated states. Its portfolio includes the expanding House of Brands collection, the award-winning 7s Fire Blitz™ series, and the Jackpot Royale™ progressive jackpot network.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Building a Stronger Omni-Channel Portfolio

Merkur believes its industry expertise and global resources will enable White Hat Studios to further expand its product portfolio and accelerate innovation. The acquisition complements Merkur’s recent purchase of Gaming Arts, the Nevada-licensed gaming supplier, creating a broader portfolio of online-first and land-based gaming products for operators.

The company said the combined business will be better positioned to support partners seeking integrated omni-channel gaming experiences across regulated jurisdictions.

Merkur also confirmed that the White Hat Gaming platform and white-label businesses are not included in the transaction and will continue operating under their existing ownership.

Executives Welcome the Partnership

Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, said: “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, commented: “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.”

Transaction Advisory

White Hat Studios was advised by Oakvale Capital, with CMS acting as its legal advisor. Merkur Group received legal counsel from Wiggin during the transaction process.