Marcel Heutmekers, Merkur Group: “We are in a very strong position for the future”  

One year after making his Merkur Group debut at G2E, Marcel Heutmekers, Senior Vice President, Merkur Games International, reflects on the company’s development, key progress in the international casino business and the next steps towards strengthening its global position. In this interview, he discusses new products, cultural change, and the role of G2E 2026 as a platform for exchange with customers and partners.

Interview.- One year after making his debut for the Merkur Group at G2E 2025, Marcel Heutmekers, Senior Vice President Merkur Games International, reflects on twelve months of strategic growth, cultural transformation, and portfolio expansion. As the industry prepares for G2E 2026, Heutmekers discusses how the company is sharpening its global focus, fostering innovation across its game studios, and building the relationships necessary to become the preferred partner for casino operators worldwide.

Exactly one year ago, you made your debut for the Merkur Group at G2E 2025. What has your first year in the new role been like? 

Looking back on my first year with Merkur, my strongest impression is that this is truly a unique company. It is remarkable to see what has been built over the decades, starting with the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Paul Gauselmann, who sadly passed away recently at the age of 91. 

Today, the Merkur Group has grown to around 15,000 employees, and what strikes me is the depth of talent, experience and engagement across the organisation. I have experienced a clear commitment at all leadership levels to building on that foundation and taking the company forward, with the Board and Supervisory Board, under the leadership of Michael Gauselmann, being very important drivers in that journey. 

So, when I look back on my first year, I feel very fortunate and, honestly, very honoured to be part of Merkur. It is a company with an extraordinary history, a strong foundation and great ambition for the future. And quite simply, it is a lot of fun to be here. 

Which experiences or achievements from the past year stand out most in your mind? 

Two achievements from the past year stand out most to me. First, I am very proud of the impressive portfolio the game studios have been building, which will see the light of day over the next couple of months, as well as the exciting long-term roadmap. Together, they put us in a very strong position for the future and create a solid foundation for achieving our ambitions. 

Second, and equally important, is the cultural change within the organisation. I see a much stronger belief across our teams that we can achieve what we have set out to do. There is more ownership, ambition and confidence in the direction we are taking and in the international success we are aiming for. 

In the interview for ICE 2026, you stated your ambition to establish Merkur as the leading and preferred partner for casino operators worldwide. What progress have you made towards that goal since then? 

We have made great progress towards that ambition over the past year. The biggest step forward has been strengthening our portfolio and building an exciting long-term roadmap. The games and products our studios are bringing to market give us a much stronger and more competitive offering, and we are receiving increasing feedback that our new portfolio will deliver significant value to casino operators across international markets. 

At the same time, we have become a more international and customer-focused organisation. We have made organisational changes to support these ambitions, put the right leaders and talent in place across different continents, and strengthened our capabilities where needed.  We now have a very solid and professional team, with people close to our markets and customers. 

“The games and products our studios are bringing to market give us a much stronger and more competitive offering.”

Marcel Heutmekers, senior vice president Merkur Games International.

What are the next steps in further strengthening this position? 

We will continue to build on the progress we have made, with a strong focus on launching and installing our new games across different markets. For this, we are extremely grateful for the strong support and confidence we receive from customers in Europe and Latin America. Their positive feedback and growing interest in our new launches give us a lot of confidence in the direction we are taking, and we will continue to execute on our strategy. 

“We will continue to build on the progress we have made, with a strong focus on launching and installing our new games across different markets.”

Marcel Heutmekers, senior vice president Merkur Games International.

The last G2E marked a significant milestone for the company, with the Nevada distribution and manufacturing licence secured shortly beforehand and the acquisition of Gaming Arts completed. What are you most looking forward to at this year’s G2E, and what has changed since then? 

G2E is always a great opportunity to experience the dynamism of the industry and meet many customers in one place. I am really looking forward to this year’s show, presenting our new portfolio and engaging with customers and partners. 

The biggest change compared with last year is the larger lineup of new and exciting titles that we will be showcasing on our booth, as well as the fact that we can now share experiences from a significant number of actual installations. This brings a whole new dynamic to the conversation and demonstrates the progress we have made. 

Which products and solutions will Merkur be showcasing at G2E 2026 in order to make a particularly strong impression? 

We will be showcasing a broad range of innovations at G2E. One of the key highlights is Paw  Link, which made its debut at ICE in Barcelona. At G2E, we will give visitors a first look at Wish  Paw and Voodoo Paw, the latest additions to the Paw Link family. In addition, we will be presenting a range of new and visually stunning titles, including Wild Temple 2, Imperial River  Temple and Lion’s Amulet. 

Beyond the games, we will reveal our latest MOD EX cabinet solutions, including the new 49- inch C-Curved upright cabinet for the North American market. Together with the new offerings from Spintec, this gives us a powerful portfolio for G2E and demonstrates the combined strength and innovation of our Group. 

What are your key sales objectives for G2E 2026? 

G2E is not really about setting specific sales objectives. It is first and foremost about interacting with customers, listening to their feedback and making them part of our journey and ambition. We see G2E as an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, build new ones and bring customers with us on our journey to become a leading and preferred partner for casino operators worldwide.