Gauselmann Underpins UK Business Expansion via Consolidation
In a move to strengthen its UK-based subsidiaries, German gaming business organisation, The Gauselmann Group is currently taking steps geared toward the consolidation of its UK-based businesses, namely Blueprint Gaming, Praesepe PLC, Betcom Limited and Regal Gaming and Leisure (formerly Sceptre Leisure.)
Paul Gauselmann, founder and CEO of the Gauselmann Group of Companies explained that the UK gambling market has proved to be increasingly significant to the company, particularly in the recent years of their 15 years of operating in Great Britain. Mr. Gauselmann commented that the UK market offers established legal parameters. Moreover, he cited Britain’s ongoing technological transition to video-based gaming as significantly in contrast to that of Germany’s, which still has to attain full completion.
The Gauselmann CEO also mentioned that the entire throng of more than 2,000 Gauselmann employees in the UK brings in annual revenue estimated at €250 million. In light of the sheer scale and significance of all its UK business interests, they are now merging and consolidating them into a single Gauselmann entity using a business model similar to that of their Germany-based organisation. According to Mr. Gauselmann, their continuing success in Germany is largely attributable to the close interaction between the divisions handling the development, production, and operational activities.
He added that Sascha Blodau, has been designated as the General Manager of Gauselmann UK and will be coordinating the businesses of the UK subsidiaries in behalf of the family-run Gauselman Germany-company. CEO Gauselmann expressed great confidence in Mr. Blodau’s renowned expertise gained from working as long-term Managing Director for Germany-based Bally Wulff Games and Entertainment GmbH. Prior to Mr. Blodau’s joining the Gauselmann Group in August of this year, he was appointed as CFO by Casino Technology in November 2014, to facilitate Casino Tech’s global consolidation growth strategy.
Blueprint Gaming represents the German company in Great Britain in the field of multi-platform digital games development, making the Gauselmann Group a leading provider of gaming content for land-based gambling terminals in the UK market.
Praesepe, the cluster of British arcade gaming centers (AGCs) and bingo clubs is another UK-based Gauselmann land-based-entertainment interest. The cluster includes the Crystal Rooms amusement gaming center at Leicester Square in London, regarded as the highest profile AGC in Europe; and the Beacon Club in North London, touted as the biggest bingo club in Europe.
In 2014, the German gaming group acquired Birmingham-based gaming software company Betcom Ltd. The takeover was in line with the German company’s strategic initiatives of expanding and strengthening its position in the British gaming market. The Betcom acquisition aimed to increase the development capabilities of the Group’s network of development teams spread across the globe. The Betcom deal presented fresh synergy effects that allowed them to carry out expansion initiatives for Blueprint Gaming
The fourth and the latest strategic Gauselmann acquisition in the UK is that of leading British Amusement with Prize (AWP) Machine operator Sceptre Leisure. Gauselmann took over the financially distressed British company in February of this year and subsequently rebranded it as Regal Gaming and Leisure. The Sceptre acquisition posed synergy effects that would enable the Gauselmann Group to expedite its overall expansion plans in the UK gaming market.
