Dominik Raasch, MERKUR Games: “G2E is the ideal platform to showcase our broad product portfolio to a wide audience”

Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member at MERKUR Games, spoke to Focus Gaming News about G2E Las Vegas and the company’s plans for North American expansion.

Exclusive interview.- From October 7 to 9, at The Venetian Expo, a new edition of G2E Las Vegas will take place, and MERKUR Games will be there, exhibiting its extensive portfolio.

To gain deeper insights about the company’s participation in the event, its newly obtained Nevada licence, and the latest innovations shaping player experiences, Focus Gaming News sat down with Dominik Raasch, management board member at MERKUR Games.

What makes G2E Las Vegas an important event for Merkur Group to attend?

G2E brings us even closer to our customers – particularly in Latin America and, from now on, also to those in the northern part of the continent. As we all know, face-to-face meetings create opportunities for meaningful exchange and build trusted relationships, which are of tremendous importance for our company in general and for our product development in particular. On top of that, G2E is the ideal platform to showcase our broad product portfolio to a wide audience and to establish new business relationships.

“G2E brings us even closer to our customers – particularly in Latin America and, from now on, also to those in the northern part of the continent.”

Dominik Raasch, management board member, MERKUR Games.

What can attendees expect to discover at your stand in Las Vegas this year?

Variety! As always, MERKUR World will feature not only MERKUR GAMING but also the MERKUR GROUP subsidiaries GeWeTe and Bede Gaming, as well as our strategic partner and ETG specialist Spintec. I am especially pleased to welcome Gaming Arts once again at our booth – this time as an official part of the MERKUR GROUP, following the recent acquisition of the company. Thanks to the wide range of subsidiaries and partners, our booth will once again present a comprehensive and multifaceted product portfolio that leaves nothing to be desired.

Having recently obtained the manufacturing and distribution licence for Nevada, how does this change your strategy for North America?

We are staying true to our corporate strategy: to excite players around the world – and now once again in North America – with innovative games, jackpot systems, and state-of-the-art gaming machines, delivering an exclusive “made by MERKUR” experience. Especially thanks to the close and trusted cooperation with Gaming Arts, I am confident that we will succeed in this endeavour. We are all extremely eager to see what the future holds for us and are looking ahead with great optimism and anticipation.

“We are staying true to our corporate strategy: to excite players around the world.”

Dominik Raasch, management board member, MERKUR Games.

What feedback from players and operators have you received from your latest developments, such as the Link Overdrive jackpot system and the brand-new Link Palace Linked Progressive Jackpot System?

With Link Overdrive, we have already achieved outstanding results, particularly in Latin America. The jackpot feature, the Diamond Reels with their mix of variety and promise, as well as the spectacular Big Reel feature, have truly captivated players. With Link Palace, we are still at the starting line, but the initial test results indicate that we can look forward to a success story of similar scale with this new system.

From your perspective, what are the biggest trends shaping land-based casino gaming in the US and globally?

One topic that currently influences nearly all areas of life – and, of course, also land-based casino gaming – is AI. Already today, AI opens up exciting new opportunities that make gameplay more engaging and development more efficient. And this is only the beginning. I am very curious to see which innovations in this field will be unveiled at G2E.

How do you continue to innovate in terms of customer engagement and experience at the gaming machines?

Customer engagement and player experience are at the heart of everything we do. We focus on creating immersive and intuitive gaming environments that go far beyond the game itself. This includes ergonomic cabinet design, user-friendly interfaces, and seamless integration of multimedia elements that enhance the entertainment factor.

At the same time, we constantly analyse player feedback and operator insights to adapt and refine our offerings. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of player psychology, we continue to surprise and delight our customers.

Post-G2E, what are your key milestones/product rollouts planned for the last quarter of 2025?

As is well known throughout the industry, after G2E comes ICE. That is exactly where we are focusing our efforts for the final quarter of 2025. We have several promising product developments in the pipeline that we will finalise and perfect in the coming months in preparation for the Barcelona show. In addition, we are currently working on a new booth concept that will create an even more immersive experience within MERKUR World and further strengthen our brand presence.