Indian Gaming magazine recently attendedthe Gauselmann Group’s 60th anniversary

celebration, held September 8-10 at the company’s expansive production headquartersin Lübbecke, Germany. The spectacular and unique weekend of 60th anniversary celebrations was attended by more than 2,500 guests during the evening events, with thousands of people, including the public, visiting the enormous tented village set in thefield behind Gauselmann’s production facility.

On the first evening, Paul Gauselmann wasjoined by long-standing associates in the 65,000sq. ft. main tent. Internationally renownedviolinist David Garrett and his orchestra performed – captivating the audience with hisinterpretation of hits by Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Prince and Coldplay. Guestsincluded representatives from politics andbusiness, the gaming industry, clients, familyand close friends. Paul Gauselmann took the stage and playedthe German version of Harry Belafonte’s song Island in the Sunfrom ‘Symphonie 80’ – the jukebox that marked the beginningof his entrepreneurial career. The company founder recalledhis unique, 60-year history with the company, which began

with a crossed bill of exchange for 100,000Deutschmark and 17 jukeboxes. Today, the company is a global player and a marketleader in the gaming machine industry with more than 12,000 employees and a volume of business worth approximately 2.5 billion Euroin 2016.

“In 2017, for the first time, the companygenerated more sales abroad without losingsight of the domestic market. We are themarket leader in Germany and will remain so,”said Gauselmann. From the stage, he went onto thank the many people who had accompa-nied him on the 60-year journey and who hadremained at his side to this day, “Above all, mylarge family of whom I am very proud.”

Michael Gauselmann, one of the entrepre-neur’s sons, gathered together his brothers,their families and children on the stage. He turned to his father, saying, “We are proud

to be your family and we are very happy to be able to celebratewith you here today.” Hannah Gauselmann, one of PaulGauselmann’s nine grandchildren, provided an insight into theprivate world of the entrepreneur. “You are a much-lovedgrandfather, who is always there for his grandchildren. Thank

you for the wonderful childhoodmemories.”

Several speakers also praised PaulGauselmann’s life’s work. GarreltDuin, former Minister for EconomicAffairs in North Rhine-Westphalia,said, “The fairness that Paul Gauselmann shows to his businesspartners is not always encounteredelsewhere in the gaming machineindustry.” Hermann Otto Solms,FDP politician and friend, describedthe entrepreneur's “irrepressible willto succeed” as the secret formulafor entrepreneurship of which PaulGauselmann is an advocate.

Other speakers included ElmarBrok, a member of the EuropeanParliament, and Georg Stecker,Chairman of the Board of DieDeutsche Automatenwirtschaft e.V.,an umbrella organization for thegaming machine industry. Brok

68 Indian Gaming October 2017

ANNIVERSARY

Thousands Celebrate Gauselmann Group's 60th Anniversaryin Lübbecke, Germany

Company founder Paul Gauselmannrecalled 60 years of the company’shistory.

Visitors enjoyed the tented village and Lubbecke countryside throughout the entire weekend.

October 2017 Indian Gaming 69

praised Gauselmann’s courage and decisive-ness, and highlighted his deep-rooted socialcommitment to the Minden-Lübbeckeregion. Georg Stecker referred to his dedica-tion to the gaming machine industry, an industry that Gauselmann has actively championed, including in his role as Chairman of the Verband der deutschen Automatenindustrie since 1981. “You alwayshave your eye on the bigger picture and advocate for the entire industry – an excellenttrait!”

Steffen Kampeter, Managing Director ofthe Confederation of German Employers’Associations, described Paul Gauselmann as “one of the greatest entrepreneurial person-alities that I know.” He also paid tribute to Karin Gauselmann, “She makes the Gauselmann Group a family company."Guests recognized the entrepreneur’s wifewith applause and a standing ovation.

A special premiere was also celebrated at the evening’s event,the biography, The Games Maker – Paul Gauselmann,written by journalist Barbara Dickmann. Instead of presents, PaulGauselmann requested donations to Vita e.V. Assistenzhunde,a charity that provides assistance dogs to people with physicaldisabilities. Donations in excess of 100,000 Euros were received.

During the celebrations, the entrepreneur was also surprised by other messages from celebrities on a large videoscreen. These included the actor Mario Adorf, with whom Paul Gauselmann had made a film about his life’s work, andsoccer player Lukas Podolski. Sending his congratulations,Podalski also announced that he would be a brand ambassadorfor XTiP, the Gauselmann Group’s sports betting company,from the beginning of 2018.

The second night was a special evening dedicated to the company’s employees. Together with Chairman Armin Gauselmann, Paul Gauselmann presented awards to more than120 long-standing employees, including those who were celebrating their 45th anniversary with the company. ArminGauselmann then surprised Paul Gauselmann with a very specialaward on behalf of the entire family – a certificate to mark 60 yearswith the company. He also received a special gold coin from theMerkur Senioren Club, whose membership comprises well over 100 former employees. Afterward, everyone danced to popgroup Pur. Both evenings concluded with a 25-minute fireworksdisplay and laser show, which lit up the Lübbecke night sky.

During the daytime events, in addition to an exhibition tenthousing 17 stands manned by the various subsidiaries of theGauselmann Group, visitors also enjoyed attractions such asa Ferris wheel, tours of the factory and several catering tents.A variety of music acts and a diverse program was also featuredon the outdoor stage.

As the event came to a close, David Orrick, Director of Industry Relations for Gauselmann Group’s Merkur Gaming,remarked, “I have been in the gaming industry through threedecades but I have never seen an event that comes even close tomatching the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the GauselmannGroup. In terms of its sheer scale, its professional organizationand the fantastic atmosphere created by the thousands of guests,it was a fitting tribute to the success and dedication that has markedthe vision and the determination of Paul Gauselmann and the business that he created and leads today.” ®

For more information about the Gauselmann Group, visitwww.gauselmann.com.

Celebrity violinist David Garrett and his orchestra gave an exhilaratingperformance.

Guests included representatives from politics and business, the gaming industry, clients, familyand close friends.