Merkur Group to Acquire White Hat Studios in US Expansion

Merkur Group to Acquire White Hat Studios – Deal Strengthens US Regulated iGaming Expansion

Key Takeaways

• Merkur Group has agreed to acquire US slots provider White Hat Studios, subject to regulatory approvals.
• The deal is positioned as part of Merkur’s expansion in the regulated US online gaming market.
• White Hat Gaming’s platform and white label businesses are not included in the transaction.
• The acquisition follows Merkur’s 2025 purchase of Nevada licensed supplier Gaming Arts.

Merkur Group Announces Acquisition of White Hat Studios

Merkur Group has agreed to acquire White Hat Studios, a slots provider active in the United States. The company announced the transaction on Wednesday, stating that it remains subject to regulatory approvals.

According to Merkur, the acquisition is designed to accelerate its expansion in the regulated US online gaming sector. The group framed the deal as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its position in online markets, particularly in jurisdictions where online gaming is formally regulated.

White Hat Studios will join the Merkur Group as part of this transaction. However, Merkur clarified that the White Hat Gaming platform and its white label business operations are not included in the deal and will remain under their current ownership.

For you as a user of online casino or betting platforms, this distinction matters. The transaction affects the slots supplier White Hat Studios, not the wider White Hat Gaming platform infrastructure or white label services.

Part of a Broader US Growth Strategy

Merkur described the acquisition as another step in its US growth plan. The move follows its 2025 purchase of Gaming Arts, a supplier licensed in Nevada. By adding White Hat Studios to its portfolio, Merkur is expanding its footprint among content providers serving regulated US operators.

The company indicated that the enlarged group aims to support the growth ambitions of its operating partners. In practical terms, this suggests closer integration between content development and distribution within regulated markets.

Merkur Supervisory Board Chairman Michael Gauselmann referenced the group’s earlier expansion into online gaming in Europe, including the acquisition of Blueprint in 2012. He characterized the White Hat Studios deal as the latest stage in the company’s ongoing online expansion strategy.

Lars Felderhoff, chairman of the Merkur Management Board, stated that White Hat Studios has delivered significant growth since its launch and that Merkur intends to continue building on that trajectory in the United States.

White Hat Studios’ Role in the Regulated US Market

White Hat Studios operates as a slots provider serving regulated online gaming operators in the United States. The acquisition places the studio within a larger international gaming group with both land based and online operations.

Andy Whitworth, president of White Hat Studios, said that joining Merkur Group would accelerate the company’s long term growth plans and product innovation efforts. He also referred to plans to enhance the studio’s omnichannel proposition, indicating a continued focus on linking online and other distribution channels.

For operators and players in regulated states, the structure of ownership can influence product pipelines, game distribution, and long term partnerships. While Merkur did not disclose financial terms, it emphasized that the transaction is intended to provide White Hat Studios with additional expertise and resources.

Regulatory Approval Still Required

The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals. In the US online gaming market, transactions involving licensed suppliers typically require review by relevant state regulators.

Until approvals are granted, the transaction cannot be finalized. Merkur did not specify a timeline for completion. As a result, the operational structure of White Hat Studios will remain unchanged until the process concludes.

For market participants, regulatory approval is a standard step in supplier level mergers and acquisitions. It ensures that ownership changes meet licensing and compliance requirements in each jurisdiction where the supplier operates.

What the Deal Means for Operators and Platform Users

Merkur stated that the acquisition is intended to help support the growth ambitions of its operating partners. In practical terms, this could involve expanded content distribution, additional development capacity, or closer strategic coordination between Merkur’s existing US assets and White Hat Studios.

Importantly, the White Hat Gaming platform and white label businesses are excluded from the deal. If you are using an online casino or sportsbook powered by White Hat Gaming’s platform services, those operations are not part of this transaction.

Instead, the focus is specifically on the slots development arm, White Hat Studios. The integration into Merkur Group could influence how its games are developed and supplied within regulated US markets, depending on how the group aligns its resources after completion.

Our Assessment

The planned acquisition of White Hat Studios marks another step in Merkur Group’s expansion within the regulated US online gaming market. Following its 2025 purchase of Gaming Arts, Merkur continues to add licensed supplier assets in the United States. The transaction does not include the White Hat Gaming platform or white label businesses and remains subject to regulatory approval. Based on the announced details, the deal is structured to strengthen Merkur’s content portfolio and support its operating partners in regulated jurisdictions.