Central Europe
Economica Report: NOVOMATIC Contributed About 2.1 Billion Euros to the Austrian Economy in Recent Years

NOVOMATIC’s Economic Footprint is significant at both macroeconomic and regional levels. The enterprise contributes substantially to economic output, value-added, employment and taxes in Austria.
Austria’s leading private economic research institute, Economica, has calculated the macroeconomic importance of the NOVOMATIC group for Austria using empirical economic research methodology to analyse economic relationships. The results show that NOVOMATIC continues to make a significant contribution to the local economy on a consistent and continual basis.
In 2022, the NOVOMATIC Group directly generated almost a half billion euros in gross value-added. The total aggregate value-added effect even adds to over 700 million euros. In the period from 2019 to 2022, NOVOMATIC’s domestic value-added including the domestic upstream supply chain network – in spite of challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic – came to a total of approximately 2.1 billion euros.
One out of every 570 euros in Austria
This means that one out of every 570 euros of value-added generated in Austria in 2022 was directly or indirectly attributable to NOVOMATIC. The company’s location in Lower Austria means that this state benefits even more from the economic strength of this leading Austrian company.
“Our value creation analysis shows that one in every 150 euros in Lower Austria is generated in connection with NOVOMATIC,” explains study author DI Helmut Berrer.
High impact on employment
Also in 2022, NOVOMATIC had approximately 3100 employees in Austria. Due to the purchase of upstream services, almost 2700 additional jobs are secured or created in Austrian supplier companies along the value chain.
In addition, the wages and salaries paid by NOVOMATIC and its affiliated companies, which are well above the Austrian average for employees, make a significant contribution to the country’s prosperity, totaling about 260 million euros per year.
“This shows the great importance of NOVOMATIC as a national and regional employer, since the company secures a total of almost 6000 jobs in Austria,” said Mag. Stefan Krenn, authorised representative of NOVOMATIC AG.
Tax revenue higher than tourism tax
Due to its strong economic performance and large workforce, NOVOMATIC is one of the largest payers of taxes and social security contributions in Austria. The total government revenue generated by NOVOMATIC amounted to 266 million euros in 2022, exceeding for example the total volume of Austria’s tourism tax.
Forward-looking investments in research and development
Significant investments are made each year in research and development to ensure that this positive development continues in the future. This high level of investment is also reflected in the registration of numerous intellectual property rights. In total, the company holds more than 5000 patents and trademarks.
Central Europe
PRAGMATIC PLAY EXPANDS SLOVAKIAN PRESENCE WITH NIKÉ

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, will begin supplying its Slots to the prominent Slovak operator Niké in its latest partnership.
Niké’s players will now gain access to Pragmatic Play’s impressive lineup of award-winning player-favourite titles, from iconic hits like Wolf Gold and Big Bass Bonanza to the popular Sugar Rush and Gates of Olympus.
As one of Slovakia’s market leaders, partnering with Niké will catalyse further growth across the country for Pragmatic Play and introduce more players to its content for the first time.
The agreement is the latest in a string of major partnerships for Pragmatic Play in Europe, following deals with Napoleon in Belgium and GAMRFIRST in Switzerland, as it continues to solidify its presence in the region and globally.
Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Pragmatic Play continues to expand in regulated markets, and partnering with major operators like Niké in Slovakia provides a great opportunity for us to deliver our rich portfolio of games to even more players. We look forward to a great partnership with Niké as it continues to strengthen its offering as a top operator in the market.”
Robert Vizvari, Chief Revenue Officer at Niké, said: “Adding Pragmatic Play games to our game lobby is a significant step forward for us. It has gained an enviable reputation for delivering some of the industry’s most entertaining experiences and opening those opportunities up to our player base heralds the beginning of a fantastic collaboration.”
Central Europe
Gauselmann Group Wins Tender for Casino Concession of the German State of Lower Saxony

The Gauselmann Group has won the tender for the casino concession of the German state of Lower Saxony. This means the group has the opportunity to operate up to ten casino locations. The concession allows for the state-licensed locations to be operated under the umbrella of the MERKUR sun from 1 September 2024, initially for a period of 15 years.
“I’m extremely delighted about receiving the casino concession in our neighbouring state of Lower Saxony. Being able to clock up this additional significant milestone in our company’s history, just two years after taking over the North Rhine-Westphalia casinos, makes me and all the employees involved very proud and shows once again that we master the ‘higher school’ of gaming with and centred round money, and that we can act responsibly in this respect. Now, in autumn 2024, the task is to integrate the Lower Saxony casinos, with their roughly 400 employees, into our company and to welcome them to the world of Merkur,” Paul Gauselmann, company founder and Chairman of the Management Board of the Gauselmann Group, said.
Pivotal for the issuance of the casino concession was the proven exemplary competence of the Gauselmann Group’s ability to operate casinos. A total of 15 locations in the German states of Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin and Rhineland-Palatinate already demonstrate the success of the company. In addition to the proof of economic viability and financial stability, the high quality of the operator’s concept, above all, were decisive for the issuance of the casino concession.
“With the takeover of the North Rhine-Westphalia casinos in 2021, we proved in an impressive way that we are able to realign the gaming and service offering in record time, to secure existing jobs, create new ones, and even increase their attractiveness. I’m certain that we will also be able to set new standards in Lower Saxony and continue to write our story of success with the casinos there,” David Schnabel, Managing Director of all Merkur Spielbanken, said.
Central Europe
OKTO.CASH Receives GGL Approval

OKTO.CASH, the innovative cash-to-digital payment method of OKTO has been granted approval by the GGL and has been officially recognized as an approved payment method for iGaming in Germany. This significant milestone allows igaming merchants in the German market to leverage the unique advantages of OKTO.CASH, setting them apart from competitors and offering an unparalleled payment experience to their customers.
GGL’s approval of OKTO.CASH comes after a rigorous evaluation process, during which three different operators submitted applications to utilize this innovative payment method. OKTO.CASH has emerged as the preferred choice for operators seeking to enhance their payment offerings.
Operators now have the option to utilize the OKTO.CASH branded solution or opt for a white-label version, providing flexibility in catering to their specific customer base and brand identity.
Mikhail Ovsepyan, Head of Germany at OKTO, expressed his enthusiasm about this achievement: “We are glad to have received GGL’s approval. OKTO.CASH is a revolutionary payment method for the German market, allowing direct real-time cash top-ups for iGaming accounts at a wide network of points of sale (POS). This is a game-changer for the industry, as there are currently no comparable solutions available.”
OKTO has built a rapidly expanding network of POS locations in Germany, which will encompass over 40,000 points of sale, including supermarket chains, kiosks, gas stations, and potentially German post offices. This strategic emphasis on proximity ensures that customers can conveniently access OKTO.CASH, thereby opening up new opportunities for customer acquisition and revenue generation that were previously unreachable through traditional payment methods.
One of the key differentiators of OKTO.CASH is its seamless payment journey, complemented by an embedded eVoucher payment method, which elevates the customer payment experience to best-in-class standards. This innovation reduces abandonment rates for consumers, as cash payments significantly reduce friction, leading to higher conversion rates.
As the iGaming industry in Germany continues to evolve, OKTO.CASH stands at the forefront of payment technology, offering operators a competitive edge and providing customers with a convenient and efficient payment solution. The approval by GGL underscores the importance of innovation and customer-centric solutions in the rapidly expanding igaming market.
Operators who choose OKTO.CASH can anticipate not only differentiation from its competitors but also the opportunity to attract a unique customer segment that values the convenience and reliability of cash-based payments.
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