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Franzi | Games
Franzi | Games 
50 Years of MERKUR CASINO: 1994–2003
Look back with us on 50 years enjoying the game.
approx. 4 min.
50 Years of MERKUR CASINO: 1994–2003
The Third Decade
MERKUR International
During the years 1994–2003, the company continued to expand its activities abroad.
Click through the image gallery and take a look at impressions of some locations of the smiling MERKUR Sun in Europe.
1/6 Hradec-Kralove (Czech Republic)
2/6 Kladno (Czech Republic)
3/6 Liberec (Czech Republic)
4/6 Pilsen (Czech Republic)
5/6 Prag Cerny Most (Czech Republic)
6/6 Rotterdamm Keerweer (Netherlands)
With “Billy’s Sportsbar” and “Sunny World”, some branches are expanded to include gastronomy areas and new concepts are tested. Guests can now also watch sporting events on large projection screens. “Sunny’s Bar” is the forerunner of the later casino bar.
At the end of the 1990s, new interior design themes are introduced, such as “Pool Factory” and “Casino Gold”. For exterior presentation, the MERKUR-SPIELOTHEK lettering and the Sun on a blue background remain unchanged. During the third decade, marketing activities inside and outside the gaming venues are expanded. Rails on the walls allow poster advertising frames to be hung up, and interchangeable display stands with information and advertising are used for the first time.
1/2 The forerunner of today’s “Casino Bar”: “Sunny’s Bar”.
2/2 “Billy's Sportsbar” was part of the gastronomic offering.
Employees and Service
The importance of customer consultation increases. For this reason, in the third decade, product training courses for employees are introduced, qualifying them as gaming advisors. The further training takes place in Espelkamp. Employees receive one-week training sessions, which conclude with an examination.
Service in the MERKUR Arcades is expanded. In some branches, vending machines for refreshments are installed. In addition, branch managers are given a budget to purchase snacks for guests. To enhance recognition value, the snack and beverage offering is soon standardised across all branches.
1/3 Decorative elements and signage like this are designed to guide guests into the Arcade.
2/3 Driving simulators in “Sunny World” in Münster.
3/3 New Arcades are opened, as here in Düren.
Gaming Machines 1994–2003
Following the points-based games, the so-called fun games are introduced in the third decade, which dispense replay tokens. At first, fun games are purchased externally, but later the company also develops them in-house. One example of this is the proprietary development “Sekt oder Selters” (Champagne or Soda).
Sports enthusiasts also get their money’s worth in the branches with billiards. As the game enjoys great popularity among guests, the “Billiards Open”, a competition between guests from all branches, is held regularly. The matches are played all the way up to the national finals.
1/6 Sekt oder Selters (1998)
2/6 At the beginning of the 2000s, the fast-paced games of the “Taifun Quick” (2002) are very popular with guests.
3/6 In the Arcades, guests can take part in a prize Skat tournament, with the highest scorers enjoying cash winnings.
4/6 In 1998, the “Happy Touch” is launched, running for the first time on a computer basis. This mix of skill, strategy, and board games proves very popular with guests.
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5/6 In 2001, the “Happy Touch” successor “Trendy” is launched. The new amusement machine features, among other things, improved software and an ergonomic cabinet.
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6/6 The first Trendy tournament in Kassel in 2002 takes place without networking of the machines; shortly afterwards, this becomes possible via “Trendy World”.
Did you know?
- In 1994, the “100 Percent Club” was launched – an award for managers of the most successful branches.
- In 1994, the city of Espelkamp gave entrepreneur Paul Gauselmann a special gift: the section of Eichendorffstraße where the then Gauselmann AG (today MERKUR.COM AG) was headquartered was renamed Merkur-Allee in honour of his 60th birthday.
- In the mid-1990s, karaoke studios were introduced in the gaming venues. Guests could test their singing abilities and, for an additional charge, take their recorded songs home on a CD.
- Comfortable climate: At the end of the 1990s, air conditioning systems were increasingly installed in the gaming venues, soon becoming standard equipment.
- At the beginning of the 2000s, recruitment was extended to the Internet.
