Early Life
Johann Graf was born on January 3, 1946, in Vienna, Austria, to a working-class family. Growing up in modest circumstances, he was raised by his grandparents and completed an apprenticeship as a butcher. While he became Austria's youngest master butcher at age 23, Graf showed little interest in continuing the family business.
Rise to Success
In 1974, Graf co-founded Brodnik & Graf GmbH, importing pinball machines. In 1980, he founded Novomatic Automatenhandels-Gesellschaft m.b.H. with an initial investment of 50,000 schillings. The company initially distributed and manufactured gaming machines. Graf expanded internationally, with branches in numerous countries and by 1990, Novomatic had a significant presence in over 50 countries. Novomatic's expansion included entering the Swiss market in 1982, and Eastern European countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Key Business Strategies
Graf focused on innovation in casino management and technology. Novomatic developed a biometric system for credit transfers and access control. By 2024, Novomatic reported revenue of €3.45 billion. Key acquisitions, such as Greentube in 2010 and Ainsworth Game Technology in 2018, solidified Novomatic's position in the gaming market.
Philanthropy
While specific amounts are unavailable, Novomatic has supported the gaming industry with research into pathological gambling.