Merkur casinos Canada players look for are online sites that carry slots from Merkur Gaming, the games arm of Germany’s family-owned Merkur Group, formerly the Gauselmann Group. The group builds slot machines, runs arcades and casinos in Europe, and supplies more than 240 online slots, CasinoCanada says. To find licensed sites, start with our online casinos for Canadian players.
Below we cover the company’s history, its best-known slots and their RTPs, the companies it owns, where Canadians can find its games, and how it compares with sister studio Blueprint Gaming and rival Novomatic.
| Fact | Merkur |
|---|---|
| Parent | Merkur Group (Merkur.com AG), formerly the Gauselmann Group |
| Base | Espelkamp and Lübbecke, Germany |
| Ownership | Gauselmann family foundation |
| Online slots | More than 240 (CasinoCanada) |
| Group size | 15,254 staff, interests in 241 companies (Wikipedia) |
| Sister studios | Blueprint Gaming, edict egaming, Bede Gaming |
| Land-based arm | About 800 Merkur arcades, plus casinos in Germany |
What are Merkur casinos?
They are online casinos that offer Merkur Gaming slots in their lobbies. Merkur casinos Canada players can reach include offshore sites that list the studio, and the name also covers the real casinos and arcades the Merkur Group runs in Europe.
CasinoCanada lists offshore sites that carry Merkur slots.
The Merkur Group also owns land casinos in Germany.
Its British arm runs high-street venues under the MERKUR Slots name.
Who is behind Merkur?
The Merkur Group, officially Merkur.com AG and known as the Gauselmann Group until its rename. Wikipedia describes a family-owned group that develops, makes and sells slot machines, runs arcades and works in sports betting, online gaming and casinos. That group stands behind all Merkur casinos Canada players find.
The group is based in Espelkamp and Lübbecke in western Germany.
A family foundation of the Gauselmann family holds it.
Its brand name across companies is Merkur.
Why is the company called Merkur?
From the company’s first self-built machine, the Merkur B. Wikipedia says Paul Gauselmann chose the name because that year was the year of Mercury, the Roman god of merchants and traders. Every Merkur casinos Canada lobby tile traces back to that machine.
Merkur is the German name for Mercury.
The Merkur B was an amusement-with-prizes machine approved by Germany’s national metrology institute.
The brand later spread to arcades, casinos and online games.
Who was Paul Gauselmann?
The founder. Wikipedia says he started out importing amusement machines and installing American jukeboxes in pubs before building his own gaming machines. Yogonet reported in August that he had died at 91, after leading Merkur for 67 years. His company created the games Merkur casinos Canada sites carry.
He handed the role of executive board spokesman to Lars Felderhoff when he retired.
His son Michael chairs the supervisory board and the family foundation.
A biography of him carries the title Der Spielemacher, “the games maker”.
How did jukeboxes start the business?
Wikipedia says Paul Gauselmann turned a hobby of building jukeboxes into a side business while working as a development engineer. His brothers Willi and Eugen joined, and the firm traded as Gebrüder Gauselmann, placing American jukeboxes in restaurants and pubs. That firm grew into the group behind Merkur casinos Canada players see.
He left his engineering job once the business had 15 employees.
He later set up a wholesale company for other makers’ machines.
Pubs and restaurants were the first venues for his equipment.
Why did Gauselmann start building his own machines?
Because a supplier cut him off. Wikipedia says a machine maker imposed a supply boycott, so Gauselmann decided to develop his own gaming machines with Friedel Horstmann and founded adp Gauselmann for the job. Self-reliance became the habit of the studio behind Merkur casinos Canada games.
adp Gauselmann is now called adp Merkur.
The first result of that effort was the Merkur B.
Building in-house let the company control its own designs.
What did the Merkur B look like?
A photo of the machine on Wikimedia Commons shows a wall-mounted cabinet with MERKUR across the top, a sun emblem, small reel windows and a prize ladder with values such as 100, 30, 20 and 10. It is a long way from the video slots at Merkur casinos Canada players use today.
The prize ladder sits in the lower half of the glass.
A side panel carries the rules and payout notes.
The sun emblem survives in the brand’s logo.
How did Merkur grow from arcades?
It opened its first arcade, Casino Merkur-Spielothek in Delmenhorst, and now runs about 800 arcades under the Merkur brand, Wikipedia says. It had built more than two million Merkur-brand machines by its sixtieth year. That land-based base shapes the games at Merkur casinos Canada players use.
Merkur arcades carry a smiling yellow sun above the door.
The group has traded outside Germany under the Merkur name for decades.
Its online games keep the arcade look.
How big is the Merkur Group today?
Wikipedia puts its latest annual revenue at about 2.1 billion euros, with 15,254 employees worldwide and interests in 241 companies. Slightly more than half of those companies are based in Germany. The Merkur casinos Canada players visit are almost all run by other operators.
Most of its online reach comes through game supply.
Its own online brands, such as Merkur Slots and Merkur Bets, serve Germany.
Casino Guru describes it as one of the leading iGaming companies in the world.
Why did the Gauselmann Group become the Merkur Group?
As part of a push to go digital and international, Wikipedia says. The group first renamed adp Gauselmann as adp Merkur, then renamed Gauselmann AG as Merkur.com AG and the whole Gauselmann Group as the Merkur Group. Older reviews of Merkur casinos Canada players read still use the Gauselmann name.
The Merkur brand had already been used on machines since the Merkur B.
One name now covers games, venues and online brands.
Search under both names when researching the company.
What is Merkur Gaming?
The group’s games business. Casino Guru says the Gauselmann Group launched Merkur Gaming to supply inventive content to online and land-based casinos, drawing on its machine-building experience. Its slots are the reason Merkur casinos Canada searches exist.
Wikipedia says Merkur Gaming GmbH first handled amusement-with-prizes machines.
It was later folded into adp Gauselmann, which is now adp Merkur.
The Merkur Gaming name was kept as a brand.
Which companies sit inside the Merkur Group?
A string of gaming names: Blueprint Gaming, which CasinoCanada calls a sister brand; edict egaming, its online casino specialist; and Bede Gaming, where it holds a majority stake. Recent deals added Gaming Arts and White Hat Studios in the United States. Their games reach Merkur casinos Canada players use and beyond.
Wikipedia describes Bede Gaming as an online betting provider.
The group also bought British company Praesepe.
The group’s press office also lists Merkur Dosniha among its companies.
What does edict egaming do?
It distributes online casino content and describes itself as a member of the Merkur Group. Its own profile says it has been a partner and specialist for online casino portals for more than a quarter of a century. It is one route by which Merkur slots reach Merkur casinos Canada players see.
European Gaming reported an edict partnership with 888casino.
A distribution partner lets one integration bring in a whole catalogue.
Look for edict or Merkur in a lobby’s provider list.
Which Merkur brand names cause confusion?
Merkur Gaming is the games supplier. MERKUR Slots is the UK venue chain, while Merkur Slots and Merkur Bets are German online brands, Merkur Spielothek is the arcade chain and Merkur Spielbanken runs casinos. Only the first supplies the Merkur casinos Canada players find online.
Wikipedia names Merkur Spielbanken Beteiligungs GmbH as the subsidiary behind the French casino deal.
The UK and German “Merkur Slots” are separate businesses in separate markets.
Check the studio name in a game’s info screen.
How large is the online Merkur slot catalogue?
CasinoCanada counts more than 240 Merkur slots, with more in development, and says a large share can be played free in demo mode. That catalogue is what Merkur casinos Canada players can browse, though no single site carries every title.
The range covers classic fruit games and themed video slots.
Popular titles get sequels and Deluxe versions.
Casino Guru keeps a list of Merkur games for free play.
Which Merkur slots are best known?
CasinoCanada’s picks include Gold Cup, Magic Mirror Deluxe 2, Brilliant Sparkle, Pyramids of Egypt, Age of Machines, Multi Wild and Magic Monk Rasputin. These are the titles Merkur casinos Canada players are most likely to see first.
| Slot | RTP (CasinoCanada) | Top win or layout |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Cup | 96.01% | 100,000 coins |
| Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 | 95.63% | 50,000 coins |
| Brilliant Sparkle | 96.11% | 1,000 coins |
| Pyramids of Egypt | 96.35% | 4,000,000 coins |
| Age of Machines | 96% | 10,000 coins |
| Multi Wild | 96.68% | 5×3, 81 ways |
| Magic Monk Rasputin | 96.20% | 3×3, 5 lines |
Coin top wins depend on the stake, so compare them with care.
RTPs can differ between casinos running other versions.
What is Magic Mirror Deluxe?
A fantasy fairytale slot about a knight rescuing a damsel, on 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines. CasinoCanada says it and its sequel return between 95% and 96%. It is one of the signature titles at Merkur casinos Canada players visit.
Footage online shows Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 free spins with retriggers.
A 3 Lions version also appears in video titles.
CasinoCanada notes a sequel to the first game.
What is Multi Wild?
A classic-theme 5×3 slot with 81 ways to win, watermelons, plums, oranges, cherries and grapes. CasinoCanada calls it its favourite Merkur slot, with medium-to-high variance and a 96.68% RTP. It is the highest-returning title on our list of Merkur casinos Canada games.
81 ways means wins pay on adjacent reels without set lines.
The fruit theme reflects Merkur’s arcade roots.
CasinoCanada calls its RTP incredible value for an older game.
What is Magic Monk Rasputin?
A dark historical slot set in Russia, played on a 3×3 grid with 5 paylines and a 96.20% RTP, CasinoCanada says. It shows Merkur can do compact grids as well as wide video slots, and it appears at Merkur casinos Canada players can access on mobile.
CasinoCanada calls it one of Merkur’s most advanced video slots.
Its gloomy colours set it apart from the fruit range.
A small grid keeps the screen clear on a phone.
What other Merkur games stand out?
CasinoCanada mentions Taco Tuesday, a bright 5×3 slot with 30 paylines and a 0.30 to 9.00 coin range. Casino Guru adds table games such as Vegas Blackjack! and Live Slingshot Roulette. Merkur casinos Canada players can find more than slots.
Taco Tuesday’s main characters are a taco maker and his chicken.
Casino Guru says the table games share the brand’s colourful look.
Check each casino’s lobby for what it carries.
Which themes do Merkur slots cover?
Going by the titles CasinoCanada reviews, Merkur mixes fruit classics such as Multi Wild with fairytales like Magic Mirror, history in Magic Monk Rasputin, ancient Egypt in Pyramids of Egypt and comedy in Taco Tuesday. Merkur casinos Canada lobbies show that range side by side.
Fruit games keep the arcade feel.
Themed games add free spins and story.
Sorting a lobby by provider shows the full spread.
What do Merkur slots look like?
Bright, cheerful and close to real-world machines, Casino Guru says, with a land-based feel similar to Novomatic’s games. Classic fruit symbols sit alongside fantasy and history themes. The look of Merkur casinos Canada lobbies reflects decades of arcade cabinets.
Casino Guru credits the parent company’s experience with machinery.
CasinoCanada notes HD graphics and full soundtracks.
The style suits players who like classic casino floors.
What RTPs do Merkur slots pay?
Across the seven titles in our table, the listed RTPs run from 95.63% to 96.68% and average 96.14%, by our own sum. That puts Merkur casinos Canada games close to the common 96% mark, without the extreme highs of rare classics such as Mega Joker.
| Slot | Listed RTP | Average cost per 100 units staked |
|---|---|---|
| Multi Wild | 96.68% | 3.32 |
| Pyramids of Egypt | 96.35% | 3.65 |
| Magic Monk Rasputin | 96.20% | 3.80 |
| Brilliant Sparkle | 96.11% | 3.89 |
| Gold Cup | 96.01% | 3.99 |
| Age of Machines | 96% | 4.00 |
| Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 | 95.63% | 4.37 |
The cost column is 100 minus the RTP, our own arithmetic.
Choosing Multi Wild over Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 saves about 1.05 units per 100 staked on average.
How do Merkur’s top wins compare?
CasinoCanada lists top wins in coins, from 1,000 on Brilliant Sparkle to 4,000,000 on Pyramids of Egypt. Coin figures depend on the coin size, so they are not directly comparable. Check the top win as a multiple of the stake at Merkur casinos Canada sites.
A coin-based figure grows with the bet.
The paytable inside each game shows the real cap.
Huge coin numbers do not mean a bigger chance of winning.
Does Merkur still make land-based machines?
Yes. CasinoCanada highlights its Avant-garde Trio cabinets, shown at ICE London and G2E, and Yogonet reports that Merkur is bringing linked progressives and new cabinets to this year’s G2E. The same studio behind Merkur casinos Canada slots still builds hardware.
The group’s press releases cover trade shows in Barcelona, Belgrade, Peru and Las Vegas.
Merkur Gaming’s show motto at ICE Barcelona was “Spin with Power. Shine in Color.”
Linked progressives join machines into shared jackpots.
Where does Merkur Gaming show its products?
At the big trade shows. The group’s press office reports a triple success at ICE in Barcelona, a strong presence at Belgrade Future Gaming, a showing at the Peru Gaming Show and the GAT Expo, and appearances at G2E in Las Vegas. Products seen there can later reach Merkur casinos Canada players use.
Trade shows launch cabinets and online titles together.
Press release titles such as “Merkur Sun Lights Up Latin Gaming” point to Latin American growth.
Another release reports a stronger market presence in Spain.
What does the Merkur Gaming video show?
The official MERKUR GAMING channel’s video, just under three minutes long, recaps three days at ICE Barcelona: new products, a bold stand design and the show motto. It gives a look at the company behind Merkur casinos Canada players use.
The channel calls the stand “the MERKUR World”.
The video links to the Merkur Gaming website.
Watch it for a sense of the company’s scale.
How does Merkur offer online play in Germany?
Through licensed German brands. Wikipedia says subsidiary DGGS opened Germany’s first licensed online amusement arcades, JackpotPiraten and BingBong, under the country’s gambling treaty, and that Merkur Slots, Merkur Bets and Slotmagie are further licensed offerings. They do not serve the Merkur casinos Canada players use.
Wikipedia cites a German report that the group took over SlotMagie.
German rules set strict limits on online slot play.
Those brands show the group’s own operator side.
Which roulette partner does Merkur use?
Spintec. The group’s press office says Merkur Spielbanken relies on Spintec’s gaming solutions and that the Merkur Group has expanded its alliance with Spintec. That partnership is land-based, but it shows where Merkur casinos Canada players hear about get their table products.
Spintec supplies roulette and table solutions to casinos.
Merkur Spielbanken runs the group’s German casinos.
Online, Casino Guru lists Live Slingshot Roulette among Merkur games.
Does Merkur run real casinos?
Yes. Wikipedia says it bought the four WestSpiel casinos owned by North Rhine-Westphalia, added a fifth in Monheim, took over Lower Saxony’s casinos and won approval to run casinos on TUI cruise ships. It has also agreed to buy a French casino group. None of these are Merkur casinos Canada players can visit online.
The French deal covers Casigrangi, owner of the Le Stelsia casinos.
Wikipedia says completion is planned for early next year, pending approvals.
The group first entered the casino sector in Saxony-Anhalt.
What is MERKUR Casino UK?
The group’s British operator. Its site says it runs more than 220 slots, high-street bingo and casino venues across the UK, and it recently bought Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds. It is a land-based business, separate from the Merkur casinos Canada players find online.
Its MERKUR 360 programme focuses on player protection.
Yogonet reports it hired a former Gambling Commission executive as head of compliance.
Venues run under the MERKUR Slots name.
Why was a UK Merkur venue refused 24-hour opening?
The BBC reported that MERKUR Slots lost a planning appeal to open around the clock in Spalding. The Planning Inspectorate found harm to neighbours’ living conditions and limited benefits. The case shows the scrutiny Merkur faces beyond the Merkur casinos Canada players see.
The venue keeps its earlier daytime and evening hours.
The charity Gambling with Lives welcomed the decision.
Planners cited noise and disturbance for nearby residents.
How does Merkur handle compliance?
Through regular international meetings and senior hires. Its press office reported compliance managers from 13 nations warning of increasing regulation, Yogonet covered a meeting of staff from six countries, and MERKUR Casino UK hired a former Gambling Commission executive. For Merkur casinos Canada players use, local rules still apply.
Each market sets its own licensing terms.
Compliance teams track those rules across the group.
Player-protection tools vary by operator.
How does Merkur Casino UK support communities?
Its site lists donations to a Nottinghamshire wildlife trust, grassroots sports clubs in Manchester and Hull and a hospice partnership in Milton Keynes. It also reports new venues creating local jobs. These are UK projects, apart from the Merkur casinos Canada players use.
The giving runs through its MERKUR Community programme.
New venues are part of a wider high-street investment plan.
Charity work does not change the risks of gambling.
What is Merkur doing in North America?
Growing. Wikipedia says it acquired the American games company Gaming Arts, and Yogonet reports the purchase of US slots provider White Hat Studios. Group company GeWeTe also partnered with Betson Enterprises. These North American moves give Merkur casinos Canada players use a closer source of new titles.
Merkur’s press office reported a strong showing at G2E in Las Vegas.
Wikipedia describes Gaming Arts as an American software games company.
Watch lobbies for new Merkur-owned studio names.
Which sports deals does Merkur hold?
Wikipedia says it holds naming rights to the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, home of Fortuna Düsseldorf, and supports clubs such as RB Leipzig, Arminia Bielefeld and Schalke 04. It also sponsors the Merkur Ostseehalle in Kiel. The brand is better known in Germany than at Merkur casinos Canada players use.
The arena’s facade carries the Merkur name and sun logo.
The group also partners with German festivals such as Parookaville.
The Kiel deal runs for ten years, Wikipedia says.
Is Merkur licensed and tested?
Casino Guru says Merkur backs its content with ISO 9001 certification, and Wikipedia notes that the group opened Germany’s first licensed online arcades under the country’s gambling treaty. For Merkur casinos Canada players use, the casino’s own licence matters most.
Its German online brands include JackpotPiraten, BingBong, Merkur Slots, Merkur Bets and Slotmagie.
ISO 9001 is a quality-management standard.
Each game also needs approval in each market it enters.
Can Canadians play Merkur slots?
Yes, at sites that carry the studio. CasinoCanada lists offshore casinos with Merkur games for Canadian readers, while Casino Guru’s tool can show none for a region where no reviewed casino offers them. Availability of Merkur casinos Canada players can join changes by province.
Offshore sites are not licensed by a Canadian province.
Provincial sites choose their own game suppliers.
Check the provider filter before you sign up at Merkur casinos Canada players hear about.
Are Merkur games in Ontario?
Only where an Ontario-licensed site has a supply deal. Ontario’s regulated market requires suppliers to register with the AGCO, so check each lobby. Sister studio Blueprint Gaming already appears at OLG.ca, which makes it the easiest group content for Ontario players seeking Merkur casinos Canada options.
Ontario sets 19 as the minimum age for online play.
Each operator picks its own game list.
Our online slots in Ontario page lists regulated sites.
How do you find Merkur games in a lobby?
Use the provider filter and look for Merkur, Merkur Gaming or edict. If there is no filter, search titles such as Magic Mirror, Multi Wild or Gold Cup. That is the quickest way to confirm Merkur casinos Canada sites really carry the studio.
A lobby can list games under the distributor’s name.
Titles with “Deluxe” or “2” are later versions.
Open the info screen to confirm the developer.
What makes a good site for Merkur games?
Check the licence first, then the Merkur titles on offer, the RTP version shown in each game and the site’s limit tools. A good choice among Merkur casinos Canada players can join ticks all four.
- Confirm a provincial or recognised licence.
- Search the lobby for Merkur titles.
- Open a game and read the RTP line.
- Set deposit and loss limits before playing.
Our gambling limits online page walks through the tools.
Can you play Merkur slots free?
Yes. CasinoCanada says Merkur slots can often be played free in demo mode, and Casino Guru keeps a free-play list. A demo is the safest way to test games before joining Merkur casinos Canada players use for real money.
Demo credits have no cash value.
Demo play shows the features before you stake money.
Free versions of other games are on our free slots in Canada page.
Do Merkur slots work on mobile?
Yes. Casino Guru and CasinoCanada both say Merkur games use HTML5, so they run on phones and tablets without an app. Mobile play at Merkur casinos Canada sites keeps the same features as desktop.
Casino Guru says mobile quality is close to desktop.
3×3 games such as Magic Monk Rasputin suit small screens.
Check stake and paytable before spinning on a phone.
How does Merkur compare with Novomatic?
Both are German-speaking slot makers with land-based roots, and Casino Guru says their online games share a real-world feel. Novomatic is Austrian; Merkur is German. Players who like one will find a familiar style at Merkur casinos Canada sites.
Both build cabinets as well as online games.
Both lean on classic fruit symbols.
Our Mega Joker page compares NetEnt’s classic with Novomatic’s slot of the same name.
How does Merkur compare with Blueprint Gaming?
They are sister studios in the same group. Blueprint focuses on UK-style video slots and jackpot networks such as Jackpot King, while Merkur leans on German arcade classics. Blueprint is easier to find in Canada than the titles at Merkur casinos Canada players search for.
Blueprint’s King Kong Cash is listed on OLG.ca.
Both share the group’s land-based know-how.
Read more on our Blueprint Gaming slots page.
Are Merkur slots fair?
Yes, when played at a licensed casino. Each spin is set by a random number generator, and regulators test games before approval. No pattern or timing changes the result at Merkur casinos Canada players use.
Long losing runs are normal on any slot, including those at Merkur casinos Canada sites.
A win is never due after a dry spell.
Our casino random number generators page explains how they are checked.
Which Merkur slot returns the most?
From CasinoCanada’s list, Multi Wild at 96.68% returns the most and Magic Mirror Deluxe 2 at 95.63% the least. Pick by RTP if cost matters most when you play at Merkur casinos Canada players can join.
Volatility also matters for how a session feels.
Multi Wild is medium-to-high variance.
Other high returners are listed on our high RTP slots page.
Which tools help you play safely?
Deposit limits, loss caps, session reminders and self-exclusion. MERKUR Casino UK runs a MERKUR 360 player-protection programme, and Canadian sites offer similar tools. Set them before playing at Merkur casinos Canada players use.
ConnexOntario provides free help to Ontario residents at any hour.
Take breaks during long sessions.
Keep gambling money apart from bills and savings.
Are Merkur casinos worth trying?
Yes, for players who enjoy classic German arcade slots and fairytale titles with RTPs near 96%. The catch is availability: check that the site is licensed and actually carries Merkur games. Used that way, Merkur casinos Canada players find add a distinct style to the usual lobby.
Start with Multi Wild for the highest listed return.
Try Magic Mirror Deluxe for the best-known theme.
Use demos before staking real money at Merkur casinos Canada players can join.