Merkur Group has agreed to acquire US iGaming content supplier White Hat Studios as the company continues to expand its presence in the North American market.
The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval, will see White Hat Studios become part of Merkur Group’s gaming business. The White Hat Gaming platform and white label operations are not included in the acquisition and will remain under their existing ownership.
Founded in 2021, White Hat Studios supplies online slot content to regulated US iGaming operators and was the first supplier to launch online slots across all seven regulated US states offering online casino gaming. Its portfolio includes the House of Brands slot collection, the 7s Fire Blitz™ series and the Jackpot Royale™ progressive jackpot network.
The acquisition follows Merkur Group’s recent purchase of Gaming Arts, a Nevada-licensed gaming supplier. Combined, the two businesses are expected to expand Merkur’s portfolio of online and omni-channel gaming content available to operator partners in the US market.
White Hat Studios was advised on the transaction by Oakvale Capital, with CMS acting as legal adviser to White Hat Studios and Wiggin advising Merkur Group.
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.”
