Merkur Group: “ICE 2026 sets the stage for an inspiring start to the new gaming year”

With ICE Barcelona 2026 marking a key milestone for the Merkur Group, management board member Dominik Raasch and SVP Merkur Games International Marcel Heutmekers share the company’s strategic priorities, international expansion plans, and product innovations shaping its global roadmap.

Exclusive interview.- As the global gaming industry prepares to gather in Barcelona for ICE 2026, the Merkur Group is positioning itself for a strong and forward-looking start to the year. With a clear focus on international integration, innovation, and sustainable growth, the company aims to reinforce its role as a leading global gaming provider while remaining deeply connected to its local markets.

In this exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Dominik Raasch, management board member of Merkur Games at Merkur.com AG, and Marcel Heutmekers, senior vice president of Merkur Games International, discuss what visitors can expect from Merkur at ICE Barcelona, the strategic importance of recent acquisitions, and how product development and global studio synergies will drive the group’s ambitions in 2026 and beyond.

What are Merkur’s main objectives for this year’s participation at ICE Barcelona?

Dominik Raasch: ICE 2026 sets the stage for an inspiring start to the new gaming year and marks a milestone for the Merkur Group. It offers our customers and players a glimpse of what lies ahead, promising engaging and dynamic experiences. We will present ourselves more clearly than ever as a global, integrated gaming brand – deeply rooted in our local markets, yet internationally connected through our broad network of subsidiaries and partners. We are really looking forward to engaging exchanges with customers, partners and industry experts.

What can visitors expect from Merkur at the expo? What will be the company’s most attractive presentation at its stand?

Marcel Heutmekers: Visitors will experience the strength of the entire Merkur Group, with a showcase that reflects both our capacity for innovation and our commitment to entertainment. ICE attendees can look forward to a strong collective presence of numerous subsidiaries and partners, each presenting fresh products and new ideas from across the Group. At the heart of our booth lies the idea of an immersive Merkur World: a universe where innovation, entertainment, and hospitality come together. It is designed to give visitors a taste of what makes Merkur unique and to spark inspiration for the year ahead. One of the highlights will be the new six-level jackpot system Dimension Link, which takes players on a mystical journey into ancient Egypt and immerses them in exciting Sticky Spins and gripping bonus features. On top of that, guests will get a closer look at the Glory of Giza series, featuring Blessing of Rana and Ramses Favor with Hold & Spin mechanic and an engaging Tower bonus.

Merkur Group recently strengthened its market presence in Spain and completed the acquisition of Oasis Retail Services in Northern Ireland. Are you planning to expand to other European markets in the next few months?

Marcel Heutmekers: Our primary focus is on further strengthening our position in existing territories and achieving a leading role across all key markets. Nevertheless, we continuously assess and develop new target markets and remain open to additional expansion opportunities. At the same time, the recent acquisition of Gaming Arts and our investment in Spintec already offer a wide range of growth potential.

“Our primary focus is on further strengthening our position in existing territories and achieving a leading role across all key markets.”
Marcel Heutmekers, senior vice president Merkur Games International.

What are the product innovations that Merkur will be focusing on in 2026?

Dominik Raasch: Initially, our focus will be on strengthening our international structures, further deepening the integration of Gaming Arts and Spintec, and continuing to drive our globalisation strategy. Our overarching objective remains clear: to achieve sustainable growth, expand our international footprint and further reinforce Merkur’s position as a leading global gaming provider. Needless to say, our products play a central role in this. We will continue to focus on technologically advanced, market-specific gaming content. In particular, the synergies between our global studios will be a key advantage, enabling an even more diverse and regionally optimised game portfolio.

“Our overarching objective remains clear: to achieve sustainable growth, expand our international footprint and further reinforce Merkur’s position as a leading global gaming provider.”
Dominik Raasch, management board member, Merkur Games at Merkur.com AG