Las Vegas News · April 17, 2026
Gaming Arts Opens The Forge Factory in Las Vegas
By The Property Management Firm
Published
Las Vegas-based slot machine manufacturer Gaming Arts held a grand opening on Thursday, April 16, for The Forge, a 23,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on West Harmon Avenue, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The new space almost triples the company's 8,000-square-foot headquarters on Orville Wright Court, and company executives said they planned to keep adding staff through the year.
The New Facility
The Review-Journal reported that The Forge is 23,000 square feet, compared with the company's 8,000-square-foot headquarters on Orville Wright Court. The company held the grand opening on Thursday and used the event to show a new game.
"We outgrew our existing facility," Gaming Arts Chief Product Officer Greg Colella told the Review-Journal. He said the company needed a much larger space to meet customer demand for its machines and noted that, while bigger manufacturers exist, Gaming Arts continues to grow.
According to the Review-Journal, Senior Vice President of Operations Jason Weller said the name came from the idea of forging steel, the place where everything comes together.
Hiring and Production
The Review-Journal reported these figures from company executives:
- Gaming Arts had 62 employees in August 2025, when Rob Ziems became CEO. That grew to 83 with the opening of the new facility. (Merkur's Sept. 24, 2025 announcement of the acquisition described Gaming Arts' team as 68 members.)
- Ziems said the company planned to add another 10 to 15 people through the rest of the year.
- Weller said the company was producing about 115 games a month, up from 20 to 25 a month when he joined in 2019.
- The company's plan for 2026 was raised from 1,250 units to about 1,500.
Ziems told the Review-Journal that he views slot manufacturers in big, middle and lower tiers, and that the company's goal was to move into the middle tier within three to five years with Merkur's support. Weller said the plan was to work toward doubling production in 2027.
Ziems said the bulk of the company's revenue comes from slot machines, while its keno and bingo business remains profitable.
About the Company
Gaming Arts was founded in 2009, mostly as a technology provider for keno and bingo, and expanded into slot machines in 2018, according to the Review-Journal. German-based Merkur Group completed its acquisition of the company on Sept. 15, 2025, after the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the deal that May, according to the companies' announcement. Merkur said at the time that it planned to add its own cabinets to the Gaming Arts portfolio.
The company's most popular game, Wild Temple Panda, was nominated as one of the top-performing new core video games at the Eilers & Krejcik slot awards and had ranked in that research firm's top 20 since May 2025, according to the Review-Journal. Gaming Arts showcased a new game, Glory of Giza, at the opening.
The Review-Journal reported that the company produces about 20 titles a year, holds more than 150 gaming licenses and distributes its games to regulated markets. The 2025 acquisition announcement put the figure at more than 155 jurisdictions. Its games can be found at casinos across Las Vegas, including Circa, Wynn, The Venetian, Fontainebleau, Resorts World, The Orleans and The Resort at Summerlin, according to the newspaper.
What This Means for Owners and Renters
For owners: The Forge is an industrial manufacturing space on West Harmon Avenue. The Review-Journal reported that the company grew from 62 to 83 employees between August 2025 and April 2026 and planned 10 to 15 more hires this year.
For renters: The company's expansion added jobs in local manufacturing, according to the Review-Journal. Weller said the company was already looking at a bigger space by the end of 2027.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Forge?
The Review-Journal reported that the facility is on West Harmon Avenue in Las Vegas. The company's previous headquarters, on Orville Wright Court, was 8,000 square feet, according to the newspaper.
How many people work at Gaming Arts?
The Review-Journal reported the company had 83 employees when the facility opened, up from 62 in August 2025, and planned to add 10 to 15 more through the rest of the year.
What does Gaming Arts make?
According to the Review-Journal, the company makes slot machines and also has keno and bingo products. It produces about 20 game titles a year.
Sources
This is general local news, not financial or legal advice. Figures come from the sources listed above and can be revised, so talk with a licensed professional about your own situation.
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