The agreement strengthens Merkur Group’s U.S. expansion strategy by adding one of the country’s leading online slot providers to its growing omni-channel portfolio.
International gaming giant Merkur Group has announced an agreement to acquire White Hat Studios, one of the leading slot providers in the regulated U.S. iGaming market, marking another significant milestone in the company’s North American expansion strategy.
The acquisition will enable Merkur Group to strengthen its presence across the United States by leveraging White Hat Studios’ proven expertise, innovative product portfolio, and strong market position. Since launching in 2021, White Hat Studios has rapidly established itself as one of the industry’s leading content providers and became the first company to launch online slots across all seven regulated U.S. states.
Its portfolio features the popular House of Brands collection, the award-winning 7s Fire Blitz™ series, and the Jackpot Royale™ progressive jackpot network, all of which have contributed to its rapid growth in the U.S. market.
The transaction follows Merkur Group’s recent acquisition of Gaming Arts and further strengthens the company’s omni-channel strategy, allowing it to offer operators an even broader portfolio of both online-first and land-based gaming experiences.
The acquisition remains subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
Merkur Group also confirmed that White Hat Gaming’s platform and white-label businesses are not included in the transaction and will continue operating under their current ownership.
Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, described the agreement as a major step forward for the company.
“Joining Merkur Group marks an exciting new chapter for White Hat Studios. Working alongside such an experienced team will create new opportunities for innovation across iGaming while strengthening our ability to deliver a truly world-class omni-channel proposition for both operators and players.”
Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, praised White Hat Studios’ impressive growth since its launch and said the company would play an important role in Merkur’s continued expansion within regulated U.S. iGaming.
Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board, added that following Merkur’s successful entry into the European online gaming market through the acquisition of Blueprint in 2012, bringing White Hat Studios into the group represents another important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.
White Hat Studios was advised by Oakvale Capital, with CMS acting as legal counsel for White Hat Studios and Wiggin advising Merkur Group.
