Gauselmann Group’s WestSpiel to open new Merkur-branded casino in Germany

Just a few weeks after the Gauselmann Group won the bid in the tendering procedure to take over the WestSpiel Group and its casino operations in North Rhine-Westphalia, the family-owned corporate group is entering the concrete planning phase for a new casino location. 

Along with the sale of the four casinos in Aachen, Bad Oeyenhausen, Dortmund-Hohensyburg and Duisburg, all in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the state of NRW simultaneously issued licences for the operation of two new casino locations. The company plans to open the first of these in Monheim am Rhein, Germany.

"During the tendering process for the casino concession, we already took a close look at possible additional casino locations and prepared extensive location and potential analyses," said Dieter Kuhlmann, Gauselmann Group Management Board member with responsibility for Gaming Operations.

Dieter Kuhlmann, Management Board member of the Gauselmann Group; and Daniel Zimmermann, Mayor of the town of Monheim am Rhein.

Considerations also took into account the politically and legally defined channelling mandate that is intended to ensure a safe and legally compliant environment for potential gamers. 

Kuhlmann added: The Monheim am Rhein location is ideal because it lies at the intersection of the transport routes between the major conurbations. Monheim am Rhein can be reached in as little as 30 minutes by car from Cologne and Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia's most populous cities. We are confident that we have made a good choice with our new casino location."

On a total area of around 4,300 square metres, a wide range of games will be available at the MERKUR Spielbank in Monheim am Rhein from the end of 2022. The concept includes classic games such as roulette, blackjack and poker, combined with the latest generation of Gauselmann slots. The MERKUR CASINO branch located on the lower ground floor of the building since 2010 will remain open.

Kuhlmann stated: "Experience at other locations has already shown that arcades and casinos are not in direct competition, but can operate successfully side by side."

After an intergroup presentation of the plans by the Gauselmann Group Management Board in Monheim am Rhein town hall, the realisation of the project is to get underway immediately. "This will also involve the targeted acquisition of personnel," said Kuhlmann. 

Around 150 new employees are being recruited for the new casino team. The investment volume for refurbishing and retrofitting the existing building is estimated at around €22.5 (USD $26 million). 

"Local businesses and companies will, of course, be given consideration in the tendering process relating to all aspects of the renovation project," the Gauselmann Management Board member explained.

"I am delighted that the Gauselmann Group has chosen Monheim am Rhein as the location for its new casino," said Monheim am Rhein mayor, Daniel Zimmermann. 

The group is also a pioneer in the area of responsible gaming. For over ten years, an in-house Prevention department specifically established for this purpose has developed and implemented a wide range of measures in the field of youth and player protection. International certifications by independent experts from the Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4) and the European Casino Association (ECA) confirm in regular audits that the Gauselmann Group fully complies with and implements all youth and player protection standards for gaming companies and that these standards are an integral part of its internal processes.