Golden Whale names Marcel Wasserer as its new chief scientific officer

Golden Whale has appointed Marcel Wasserer as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), formalising a relationship that began with an AI advisory engagement in January 2025. The company said he will bring his expertise in artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to a senior role as it continues developing machine-learning technology for the iGaming industry.

Golden Whale operates in decision intelligence and machine-learning-powered optimisation. Its public product information describes tools designed to help operators use behavioural data to support decisions across player engagement, retention and incentives. The company says Wasserer combines AI expertise with more than a decade of game development experience.

Appointment builds on an existing relationship

Wasserer has worked with Golden Whale as an AI adviser since January 2025. His appointment therefore follows an established collaboration, giving him prior experience with the company’s team and its work before moving into the CSO position.

Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO of Golden Whale, said: “Marcel’s appointment is a signal of the increasing depth of the work we are doing here at Golden Whale and our commitment to theoretical excellence.

“Having worked closely with Marcel in different capacities, we have experienced first-hand the kind of valuable insights he brings. His deep expertise across both AI and game development makes him the perfect fit as we continue to strengthen our position as a leading provider of decision intelligence across the iGaming industry.”

The statement presents the appointment as part of Golden Whale’s effort to strengthen its scientific and technical expertise. The company has not published a detailed description of the CSO’s remit or named specific projects that will fall under Wasserer’s responsibility.

Experience across AI and game development

Golden Whale describes Wasserer as an AI adviser and reinforcement learning specialist. Reinforcement learning trains systems to make decisions through interaction and feedback, with results that can be evaluated and refined over time.

Wasserer’s earlier career included software engineering and technical leadership roles at Greentube, where he worked as a Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead. His background therefore includes direct experience in gaming as well as later work in artificial intelligence.

Golden Whale said the blend of AI and gaming knowledge was a key reason for the appointment.

EnliteAI and the Detekt acquisition

Wasserer co-founded enliteAI in Vienna in 2017. The business developed AI products and worked in areas including reinforcement learning and computer vision. Its current company information identifies Wasserer as a co-founder and presents the organisation as EnliteAI Energy, reflecting its more recent focus on AI-based energy and grid optimisation.

A project associated with enliteAI was Detekt, an AI platform using mobile mapping data to identify road assets such as surface defects, signs and markings. Cyclomedia announced that it had acquired Detekt in August 2025. EnliteAI described the transaction as its first portfolio exit.

The deal is separate from Golden Whale’s announcement but adds context to Wasserer’s professional background. It illustrates the use of AI in a sector outside gaming, while his work with Golden Whale is focused on decision intelligence for iGaming operators.

Golden Whale’s decision intelligence focus

Golden Whale’s current public product information describes an AI decision layer designed to work with operators’ existing systems. Its offering includes FOUNDATION and BONUS PILOT, which the company positions around machine-learning-based player engagement and incentive optimisation.

Golden Whale says its technology analyses behavioural information to generate predictions and support decisions across acquisition, retention and reactivation. BONUS PILOT is designed to support incentive decisions, including the selection and timing of offers. These descriptions reflect the company’s own account of its products rather than independent performance assessments.

Scientific oversight can support model evaluation and help ensure that outputs are interpreted in context. Golden Whale has not announced specific product changes or performance targets linked to Wasserer’s appointment.

AI expertise and responsible development

AI systems are being developed within a wider policy and governance environment. The EU AI Act establishes a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence in the European Union, while the OECD AI Principles offer recommendations for trustworthy AI, including transparency, robustness and accountability.

These frameworks provide context for organisations developing or deploying AI, although they do not determine the legal status of a particular product. Applicable obligations depend on the system and its use. Golden Whale has not identified a specific regulatory project as part of Wasserer’s new responsibilities.

Wasserer welcomes the expanded role

Wasserer said he was pleased to take on the position after working closely with Golden Whale over the preceding period.

Marcel Wasserer, Chief Scientific Officer at Golden Whale, added: “I’ve worked closely with the Golden Whale team over the last 21 months and I’m delighted to take on the role of Chief Scientific Officer.

“The company continues to build momentum in the iGaming space and I look forward to becoming a deeper part of that journey and helping shape its next stages.”

His comments describe the appointment as a continuation of an established relationship. No timetable for new products or research milestones has been announced.

Conclusion

Golden Whale’s appointment of Marcel Wasserer as Chief Scientific Officer formalises a relationship that began with AI consultancy in January 2025. His background in reinforcement learning, software engineering and game development combines research knowledge with experience in gaming technology.

His co-founding role at enliteAI and involvement in Detekt also demonstrate work applying AI beyond gaming. Cyclomedia acquired Detekt in 2025, marking a significant development in that business’s history.

The impact of Wasserer’s appointment will become clearer through the work carried out in the role. For now, it formalises an established collaboration and highlights Golden Whale’s focus on specialist AI expertise.

FAQs

Who is Marcel Wasserer?
Marcel Wasserer is an artificial intelligence specialist and reinforcement learning expert who has worked in game development and software engineering. He has also co-founded the Vienna-based AI business enliteAI.

What position has Marcel Wasserer received at Golden Whale?
He has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), taking on a senior scientific role at the iGaming technology company.

When did Marcel Wasserer begin working with Golden Whale?
According to the company, he began supporting Golden Whale as an AI adviser in January 2025.

Who is the CEO of Golden Whale?
Eberhard Dürrschmid is the CEO of Golden Whale.

What experience does Marcel Wasserer bring to Golden Whale?
His background includes artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, software engineering and more than a decade of game development experience, according to Golden Whale.

What is reinforcement learning?
Reinforcement learning is a machine-learning approach in which systems learn to make decisions through interaction and feedback from their environment.

What is enliteAI?
EnliteAI is a Vienna-founded AI business established in 2017. It has worked in artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning and computer vision and is now focused on AI-based energy and grid optimisation.

What was the Detekt acquisition?
Detekt was an AI-based platform for analysing mobile mapping data and identifying road infrastructure assets. Cyclomedia announced its acquisition in August 2025.

What does Golden Whale specialise in?
Golden Whale specialises in machine-learning-powered decision intelligence for the iGaming industry, with technology supporting player engagement, retention and incentive optimisation.

What did Marcel Wasserer say about his appointment?
He expressed his satisfaction at taking on the CSO position after working with the Golden Whale team and said he looked forward to contributing more closely to the company's future development.