Income from Gauselmann returns to pre-COVID levels in the first half of the year

15 July 2022

Income from Gauselmann returns to pre-COVID levels in the first half of the year

For the six months ending 30 June, the company reported sales of €1.75bn, up marginally from €1.74bn in the corresponding six months of 2019.

It follows years of trouble for the land-based slots operator caused by the epidemic; the company reported a €2 billion drop in sales in 2020 and 2021 and had to close over 1,000 venues for significant portions of that year. It also noted that operational expenses remained "largely unchanged" even with the cuts.

Chairman Paul Gauselmann (left) expressed his joy at the news that the pandemic has subsided and that they are once again in charted territory. "What you can accomplish with perseverance and camaraderie is best demonstrated by this success, which is largely the result of our excellent ideas and the commitment of all of our employees."

In addition to a general upturn following the epidemic, the Gauselmann Group attributed its recovery to "increasing diversification.".

Relying less on specific markets and business strategies, "The Gauselmann Group is positioning itself on an ever-broader base," the company stated.

To "compensate for the increasingly difficult situation in the German home market," the group pointed to expansion in the United Kingdom and Spain as a major factor in the recovery.

Consequently, almost 60% of Gauselmann's income currently comes from activities outside of Germany.

"To propel our global business operations forward was of paramount importance, from an entrepreneurial standpoint," stated Paul Gauselmann.

The company's workforce grew by 10.7 percent in 2021, reaching about 15,000 employees.

Mernov, a subsidiary of the company, was granted the country's first slots licence, and the opening of an online casino in Germany was also contemplated. However, according to Paul Gauselmann, operators may require more "reasonable" market conditions, such as a greater effort to combat the illegal market, in order to prosper.

"We will certainly be actively contributing with insightful suggestions in the online segment," he declared. "If we can improve our performance and work within more reasonable parameters moving forward, success will be ours to enjoy."