Merkur Group Agrees to Acquire White Hat Studios

International.- July 16, 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Merkur Group has announced an agreement to acquire White Hat Studios, one of the leading online slot developers in the U.S. market, in a transaction that will strengthen the group’s presence in the regulated American iGaming sector.

The addition of White Hat Studios will enable Merkur to expand its omni-channel offering and accelerate the development of new products by leveraging the group’s technological expertise and global resources.

Founded in 2021, White Hat Studios has rapidly established itself as one of the fastest-growing slot providers in the United States, becoming the first company to launch online slots across all seven regulated states. Its portfolio includes the House of Brands collection, the award-winning 7s Fire Blitz™ series, and the Jackpot Royale™ progressive network.

The acquisition complements Merkur Group’s recent purchase of Gaming Arts, the Nevada-licensed supplier of casino games and machines. Together, these transactions reinforce the company’s strategy of delivering an integrated portfolio of online content and omni-channel solutions for operators across the North American market.

The transaction remains subject to the relevant regulatory approvals. Merkur confirmed that the White Hat Gaming technology platform and its white-label business are not included in the transaction and will continue operating under their current ownership.

Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, said that joining Merkur represents the best opportunity to accelerate the company’s growth and build a world-class omni-channel proposition for operators and players.

Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, highlighted White Hat Studios’ impressive growth since its launch and stated that the acquisition will further strengthen the group’s expansion strategy within the regulated U.S. iGaming market.

Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board, noted that the company began its digital strategy in Europe with the acquisition of Blueprint in 2012 and expressed confidence that White Hat Studios will become an important addition to Merkur’s long-term international growth.

White Hat Studios was financially advised by Oakvale Capital, while CMS acted as legal advisor to White Hat Studios and Wiggin advised Merkur Group throughout the transaction.

Edited by: @_fonta