MERKUR Opens Third UK Casino With Victoria Gate Leeds Takeover
MERKUR Casino UK has opened its third casino in the country after taking over Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds, one of the largest casinos in the UK by floor size. The operator completed the acquisition and reopened the venue under the MERKUR brand on July 13, 2026, having bought it from a subsidiary of VGC Developments Ltd.
The Deal
MERKUR announced the acquisition on July 7, 2026. The casino, in the Victoria Gate leisure and retail destination in Leeds city centre, closed briefly on July 6 to allow a handover before reopening a week later. The company said all experienced team members were retained, safeguarding local jobs as the site changed hands.
A Third UK Venue
The takeover marks MERKUR's third casino in the UK, following the launch of its Aberdeen Casino in 2023 and the acquisition of Casino MK in Milton Keynes last year. Chief operating officer Mark Schertle set the acquisition in the context of the company's wider plans: “The acquisition of Victoria Gate Casino reflects our confidence in the future of land-based casinos in the UK and our ambition to continue growing the MERKUR brand in key locations.”
Who MERKUR Is
MERKUR Casino UK is part of the MERKUR Group, formerly the Gauselmann Group, which was founded in 1957 and has operated the UK business since 2012. It runs casinos, adult gaming centres and high street bingo, and its MERKUR Slots arm is midway through a programme investing more than £5 million in high street venues over 12 months. The Leeds deal signals continued spending on land-based sites at a time when much of the sector's attention sits online.
Why It Matters
Large land-based casinos rarely change hands, so a major operator buying one of the UK's biggest venues is a marker of confidence in bricks-and-mortar gaming. It also grows MERKUR's UK footprint in a market where new casino licences are limited and acquisition is often the fastest route to expansion.
What To Watch
The question is whether MERKUR keeps buying. Schertle's language about growing the brand in key locations suggests the Leeds deal may not be the last, and further UK acquisitions would confirm a deliberate land-based expansion strategy. MERKUR's own announcement sets out the full detail.
