Merkur Group has finalized a deal to acquire White Hat Studios, a slots provider targeting the U.S. market, marking a strategic move to bolster the German gaming company’s footprint in regulated American iGaming sectors. The finalization of this agreement relies on obtaining regulatory approvals.
This acquisition pertains solely to White Hat Studios’ game development division. The existing ownership framework for the White Hat Gaming platform and its white label operations remains unchanged and outside the purview of this transaction.
A Rapidly Emerging Entity in the U.S. Market
Founded in 2021, White Hat Studios has rapidly established a prominent presence within the U.S. iGaming landscape, becoming the first provider to launch online slots across all seven regulated states in this sector.
Their diverse portfolio includes slots, jackpot slots, RNG table games, and licensed branded titles, featuring collections such as House of Brands, the 7s Fire Blitz series, and the Jackpot Royale progressive jackpot network. White Hat Studios boasts over 150 titles.
Merkur emphasized that its expertise and resources would assist White Hat Studios in further enhancing its slot development initiatives and expanding its omni-channel capabilities across both traditional and digital platforms.
“White Hat Studios has achieved remarkable growth since its inception. We are eager to collaborate with their team to propel the U.S. success narrative and facilitate Merkur’s growth in regulated iGaming,” said Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board.
Swift Expansion with Another U.S. Deal
The acquisition of White Hat Studios follows closely behind Merkur’s earlier acquisition of Gaming Arts, a licensed game and machine supplier in Nevada. Together, the two transactions provide Merkur with a comprehensive range of online-first and omni-channel content tailored for operating partners in the U.S.
“Becoming part of the Merkur Group is a significant step for everyone at White Hat Studios, and it represents the optimal move towards realizing our aspirations for growth and product innovation,” stated Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios.
“Collaborating with the highly experienced Merkur team will create new opportunities for us in iGaming and strengthen our capacity to offer a world-class omni-channel solution that benefits both operators and players,” he added.
“Having made early strides in Europe with our Blueprint acquisition back in 2012, I am thrilled with this new development and confident that White Hat Studios will significantly enrich our group,” said Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board.
White Hat Studios received advisory support on this transaction from Oakvale Capital. CMS served as legal counsel for White Hat Studios, while Wiggin represented Merkur.