Merkur Group to be Licensed in Nevada, Will Acquire Gaming Arts
Merkur Gaming US, a subsidiary of the German-based Merkur Group, has been granted a license to manufacture and distribute its gaming products in the state of Nevada.
In addition, the Nevada Gaming Commission has approved Merkur’s acquisition of Gaming Arts LLC, a licensed Nevada-based gaming operator headquartered in Las Vegas and a trusted strategic partner of the German gaming specialist. It is anticipated that the transaction will close in early Q3 2025.
In addition to obtaining the license, the approval for the acquisition of Gaming Arts LLC represents another pivotal key element for the Merkur Group in officially re-entering the North American market as a certified manufacturer. The two companies have enjoyed a strategic partnership that has already yielded mutually beneficial synergies.
“The close and constructive partnership with Gaming Arts LLC has significantly contributed over the past months to successfully establishing all necessary prerequisites for the licensing as well as the upcoming acquisition,” said Lars Felderhoff, chairman of the Merkur Group. “We are deeply grateful for the excellent cooperation.”
Caesars Entertainment Launches Online Exclusive Title with
Light & Wonder
Caesars Entertainment announced the launch of a major exclusive online casino game in partnership with Light & Wonder on its online casino platforms in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ontario. Ultimate Fire Link Cash Falls by the Bay combines two slot brands, Ultimate Fire Link and Cash Falls, and is now live for online casino players across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino.
Players on these online casino platforms can now enjoy early access to the new game, which includes a unique blend of features and engaging game play. In addition, Caesars will be hosting a select group of VIP Caesars Rewards members in Atlantic City in celebration of the debut. The company also is running a wide range of omnichannel promotions across its brick-and-mortar casinos and digital platforms in all jurisdictions where the game is live, excluding Ontario. Offers range from special cash bonuses to the chance to win a BMW X3 via a giveaway taking place in New Jersey.
Light & Wonder’s Ultimate Fire Link and Cash Falls are among the most popular slot games on casino floors at Caesars Rewards destinations across North America.
Zitro Supplies Mexico’s Casino La Cima
Casino La Cima in Mérida, Yucatán, is now home to Zitro’s new Concept cabinets, marking a significant milestone in an ongoing collaboration with Grupo Same, one of Mexico’s most prestigious operators.
The Concept cabinets feature the Magic Lighting system, which syncs lights and sound with game play for a fully immersive experience, and the largest Screen Deck button panel on the market, offering comfort and ease of use for players and operators.
This launch is backed by some of Zitro’s most successful titles—Fortune Legacy, Legendary Sword and King Fu Frog, all known for engaging mechanics and strong performance.
In a separate release, Zitro announced it has achieved a new certification in its commitment to sustainability: the ISO 14064-1 standard, which manages the improvement of its corporate carbon footprint. After successfully completing the certification process, the company now holds this accreditation that supports the management of its greenhouse gas emissions across all its global locations.
JCM Global Installs Towering Digital Signage at Chinook Winds
JCM Global announced the installation of a towering new digital signage solution at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon. The digital signage frames the entrance of the casino’s high-limit area and creates a stunning visual destination that transforms the casino floor.
Specifically, JCM installed three curved 2.5mm FLEX LITE-S solutions. The two pillars each measure nearly 8 feet high by 7 feet wide, and they connect to an overhead soffit that is nearly 24 feet wide and 5 feet high. The entire solution is programmable and can display different content for each piece of digital signage or showcase one video across all three signs.
The dynamic digital signage replaced static wood pillars and can feature a range of messaging, images, and video limited only by the imagination. This is the first digital signage project JCM has installed at Chinook Winds. The casino also has JCM GEN5 thermal printers on each of its slot machines.
IGT PlayDigital Debuts Mega Vault
International Game Technology PLC announced the launch of IGT PlayDigital’s Mega Vault offering, a new innovation on its player engagement solution. Powered by the IGT PlayDigital Engagement Platform, a customizable suite of player engagement tools, Mega Vault brings together its engagement tools—Prize Drops, Leaderboards, Marketing Jackpots, and more—into a single promotional experience.
Designed to maximize excitement, engagement and rewards, Mega Vault aims to deliver seamless high-impact campaigns that drive long-term retention.
This rollout of the Mega Vault promotional brand also includes a new functionality within the Engagement Platform toolset. PlayDigital customers can now combine the existing tools within the Engagement Platform tool kit, unlocking the ability to run one-of-a-kind promotions and create unlimited promotional possibilities. The first of these combined functionalities includes the Multi Drop and Leaderboard tools, allowing operators to simultaneously engage and reward their players.
AGS Named ‘Best to Work For’
AGS, a global gaming supplier known for its high-performing slot, table and interactive products, announced it has been named one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” in the nation and in Atlanta for the ninth consecutive year.
Presented by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For awards are based on an independent research-driven assessment of company practices and employee survey results. Companies are evaluated across a comprehensive set of criteria that reflect the employee experience—spanning areas like compensation and benefits, engagement and retention, civility and inclusion, leadership, communication, and overall workplace well-being.
AGS earned high marks for its focus on key areas such as benefits, wellness, community involvement and workplace creativity—surpassing the Best and Brightest benchmark, which reflects the median score of peer companies in the same market.
“These awards are more than plaques on a wall—they’re proof of the incredible team we’ve built,” said AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez. “Our people are the engine behind everything we do, and the culture we’ve created together continues to be one of the things I’m most proud of.”
Habitus Design Group Completes the First Five-Star Integrated Resort in Manila
The final phase of Solaire North, the Philippines’ first five-star integrated resort, is now complete. Designed as an urban oasis with a sophisticated sense of place, every interior space of this award-winning project in Quezon, the largest city in Metropolitan Manila, was planned, designed, orchestrated and delivered by internationally renowned designer Samantha Drummond, and her company, Habitus Design Group (HDG).
The new property is a luxury destination meant to set a new benchmark in the region, elevate the local economy and re-energize the potential for local and international tourism in Quezon City, the largest city in Metropolitan Manila.
Habitus Design Group was appointed in 2018 as specialists in managing the design of highly complex, large volume spaces requiring connectivity and adjacencies combined with a luxurious, creative aesthetic to work with a scheme for a vertical building of 38 stories designed by international architectural firm Aedas.
The interior plan includes 530 guestrooms and suites, 14 dining options, bars & lounges, a ballroom, conference and meeting rooms, a spa and gymnasium, pools and a kids club, as well as a high-end retail avenue and four gaming levels.
