Paul Gauselmann, founder of Merkur Group, died on Friday aged 91. The gambling industry has expressed condolences to his family and employees.
Gauselmann was born in Germany in 1934 and opened his first gaming hall in 1974. Over 67 years he built Merkur Group into a business with 15,000 employees and revenue of around €2.1bn. In 2024 he handed the chairman role to his son Michael but continued to attend the office and take part in operational management.
Merkur Group called Gauselmann "a courageous fighter with grand ambitions." The company said the loss has not yet been fully grasped, but employees' gaze remains on "the Merkur sun" — as the founder would have wanted.
Stuart Hunter, managing director of WorldGaming, highlighted Gauselmann's contribution to the international industry and his support for moving the ICE trade show from London to Barcelona in 2025. IGT described his legacy as "immense" and noted the entrepreneurial vision that left a mark on global gambling.
Lars Felderhoff, chairman of Merkur Group, expressed gratitude for personal meetings and the experience gained from working with Gauselmann. A memorial has been opened at the founder's monument in the courtyard of Benkhausen Castle, Merkur Group's training centre.
