† Obituary: “Game Maker” Paul Gauselmann Passes Away
(eap) Paul Gauselmann, founder and long-time Chairman of the Management Board of the Merkur Group, passed away on Friday, August 21, shortly before his 92nd birthday. Born in Westphalia, Germany, he developed a one-man business into an internationally active group with around 15,000 employees and total revenues of 2.1 billion euros.
When Gauselmann began his entrepreneurial career, the commercial amusement and gaming machine sector still largely existed outside the public spotlight – an image he was determined to change. In 1974, he opened his first gaming arcade in Delmenhorst, Lower Saxony, which was set to set new standards with its exceptionally high-quality ambience and service – something that was unusual for the industry at the time. His first self-developed gaming machine, the “Merkur B”, conquered the German market in 1977 and marked the beginning of the group’s rapid growth. Numerous further in-house developments, hundreds of patents and the company’s expansion into international markets followed. Today, the trademark he conceived – the smiling Merkur sun – is known worldwide as a symbol of gaming and gambling.
Alongside the success of his own company, Gauselmann always kept an eye on the development of the amusement and gaming machine industry as a whole. For 38 years, he played an important role in the sector – 28 of them as Chairman of the Verband der Deutschen Automatenindustrie e.V. (Engl.: German Amusement and Vending Machine Industry Association) – and thus made a significant contribution to the development of this branch of the economy. In addition, Gauselmann supported numerous projects in the fields of social affairs, culture, sport and healthcare and established the charitable Paul Gauselmann Foundation, which later became the Paul and Karin Gauselmann Foundation together with his wife Karin. In recognition of his social commitment, he was made an honorary citizen of the cities of Espelkamp and Lübbecke in 2004; one year earlier, he had been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class.
Another project closely associated with Gauselmann is Schloss Benkhausen. In 2010, Gauselmann acquired the approximately 500-year-old estate, which was in need of renovation at the time and located only a few kilometres from his home. Following extensive restoration work, the property was transformed into a modern training centre with hotel facilities. A former barn on the estate also houses the Deutsche Automatenmuseum – Sammlung Gauselmann (Engl.: German Museum of Amusement and Gaming Machines – Gauselmann Collection).
Paul Gauselmann is survived by his wife Karin, four sons, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. ■
