Industry News
Q&A with Joonas Karhu from Bojoko
What is the current state of play in Finland when it comes to online casino/sports betting regulations?
The online licensed operator in Finland is Veikkaus and it has a monopoly on all land-based, online casino and sports betting. That being said, players in Finland are allowed to gamble wherever they like however operators are not allowed to advertise their brands within the borders of Finland. This is why you see a large number of affiliates running Finnish-language versions of their sites as there is no law preventing them from pushing players from Finland to their operator partners, so long as they are not considered to be advertising within the country’s borders.
Do you believe the market will ultimately move away from being a monopoly? If so, why?
Ultimately, Finland will open up its market through a regulatory framework and licensing model similar to what is in place in Sweden. And it really is only a matter of time before this happens. Last year, Finnish journalist Senja Larsen wrote a book called Veikkauskratia that brought to light some of the horrors of the country’s gambling monopoly. The discussion about the open model versus the closed monopoly has been brewing for years but the book has caused things to explode.
The proceeds Veikkaus generates are now being directed to the government budget but before they were distributed directly by the operator. This has led to instances of corruption. Now that the proceeds are being controlled by the government, it makes instances of corruption much less likely and not only that, but the government will be able to clearly see the greater benefits that regulating and licensing land-based and online gambling will bring to the country.
How long do you think it will take before the market is regulated/licensed and more operators are allowed to enter?
A parliamentary election is set for 2023 and I believe that this will be one of the key topics discussed throughout the election process. Given the tremendous benefits that licensing and regulation would bring, and that other European countries continue to embrace open gambling markets, it could easily be the case that Finland has a licensed market as early as 2024.
What opportunities does the Finnish market present now for operators and affiliates?
A 2017 article in the Economist put Finland as the fourth biggest market in the world based on gambling losses per adult so the potential for operators and indeed affiliates is clear. Of course, due to the current monopoly approach operators and affiliates need to tread carefully to ensure they do not fall foul of the country’s gambling laws. At present, it is about considering whether the balance between risk and reward can be struck, and despite the clear opportunities the market offers, for many it is better to wait for the country to embrace regulation and licensing.
How will those opportunities change in the event the market moves away from the monopoly model?
The cost of operating in the market increase as operators will have to ensure they are compliant with the regulations in place. They will also have to market to players, and in the early days those that can spend big and be more aggressive are best placed to gain the all-important first-mover advantage. Another challenge will be securing talent – companies will undoubtedly open offices in Finland and seek to onboard those with experience in the market. This can lead to a situation where supply outstrips demand. Of course, a regulated, licensed market gives businesses the confidence they need to invest into the industry which in turn helps it to grow.
Do monopolies ultimately harm the consumer experience? If so, how/why?
Many years ago, a number of Finnish political leaders and perhaps the gambling monopoly Veikkaus came up with a story that with a monopoly they can protect the consumer better. With this story, Finland got a wild pass from the EU to maintain this approach to its gambling industry. Of course, several years on we now know, based on data both from Finland and Norway, that actually a monopoly creates more gambling problems when compared to regulated markets.
When it comes to consumer experience, every year we see that consumers play less at Veikkaus than the previous year and more abroad and at offshore sites. This is no surprise as the world has been globalising for years and consumers want choice. I mean if you just look at the list of online casinos regulated by the UKGC we have at Bojoko here, you can see that there are 200 of them.
What are the main benefits that licensing and regulation could bring to Finland?
Better player protection. No one company can be more responsible than the sum of many with independent and objective regulations and regulators. It also creates more value for players due to the competitiveness of a free market. In addition, it leads to better channelisation which in turn generates increased tax revenues for the Finnish government instead of money flowing abroad. Opening up the market also creates opportunities for businesses as gambling companies need often work with third-parties while also providing solid ground for start-ups looking to bring something new and exciting to the market.
Evoke, one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies with internationally renowned brands including William Hill, 888 and Mr Green, announced the establishment of a new Technology Committee of the Board effective immediately.
The Committee will be chaired by Independent Non-Executive Director Susan Standiford. Non-executive Directors Limor Ganot and Ori Shaked will also be members of the Committee.
The Committee will provide Board-level oversight of evoke’s major technology investments and initiatives, ensuring alignment with business strategy, risk management and operational effectiveness.
Jon Mendelsohn, Chairman of evoke, said: “In a world where technology is evolving at break-neck speed and in an industry where technology leadership is a core driver of sustainable success, our Technology Committee will play an important role in strengthening the Board’s governance and long-term strategy development. The Committee will focus on providing transparency and insight across our product, technology, data and operational initiatives as well as informing the Board and executive leadership on technology trends with the potential to shape the Group’s long-term competitive advantages.”
The post Evoke Announces the Establishment of a New Technology Committee appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions. With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.” Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
The Missouri Gaming Commission has announced that it has officially begun accepting applications for sports betting license. The Commission made the announcement following the unanimous approval of a resolution drafted Tuesday that approved the licensing process. The resolution passed after Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office reviewed it. The licensing period opens roughly six months after Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment legalising sports betting. The measure passed by less than half a percentage point, with a margin of less than 7500 votes.
Underdog Fantasy has relaunched its draft-style daily fantasy sports (DFS) games in New York, nearly two months after it withdrew all of its DFS competitions from the Empire State. The decision to withdraw all DFS contests from New York in March came after a ruling from the New York State Gaming Commission in which the commission determined Underdog was not in line with the state’s current DFS law. An Underdog Fantasy spokesperson confirmed the company is still working under a temporary license. The New York State Gaming Commission agreed to allow the company to offer its draft DFS games with the temporary license. Most DFS companies in New York operate with a temporary license.
New Partnerships
Pollard Banknote Limited has congratulated the West Virginia Lottery on the successful launch of Royal Court Riches, its first eInstant game from the Pollard Digital Games Studio. Royal Court Riches has already demonstrated strong performance in multiple markets—in its first international launch, it achieved that jurisdiction’s highest tickets sold, total sales and gross gaming revenue within its first 30 days of release. Royal Court Riches is the first in a series of games from the Pollard Digital Games Studio slated to launch in West Virginia this year.
SYNOT Games has announced a new partnership with Caliente, one of Mexico’s top gaming platforms. This collaboration marks an exciting expansion for SYNOT Games, as it brings its acclaimed portfolio of gaming content to the Mexican market. It enhances Caliente’s offerings with an extensive array of high-quality slot games such as Respin Joker, Book of Secrets, Realm of Lions and Forest Maiden, designed to captivate players and boost engagement. Caliente with its strong presence in Latin America, is the perfect partner for SYNOT Games’ expansion into the region. The partnership aims to deliver an exceptional gaming experience, combining SYNOT’s visually rich, innovative games with Caliente’s extensive reach and reputation.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 19-25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025
Betsson Group has been nominated in 14 categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards 2025, hosted by Clever Duck Media. These include five company-wide nominations and nine individual nominations for eight of its employees.
These annual awards celebrate excellence in equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing across the global gaming industry. Since its launch in 2010, the event has solidified its position as one of the global gaming industry’s most respected diversity accolades.
The categories in which Betsson Group and its employees have been shortlisted include:
Company Category Nominations:
Best Diverse Place to Work
Community Engagement
Company of the Year (Operator)
Diversity & Inclusion
Great Place to Work Award
Individual Category Nominations:
Affiliate Leader – Shakyra Jonsson
Employee of the Year (Operator) – Lisa Mifsud
Excellence in Customer Service – Gabriella Larsson
HR Champion (Operator) – Tamara Klibadze
Innovator – Lena Nordin
Inspiration of the Year (Operator) – Lena Nordin
Positive Role Model of the Year (Operator) – Lara Lombardi
Star of the Future (Operator) – Jessica Carrillo Miranda
Young Leader of the Year (Operator) – Chellyanne Cassar
These nominations reflect the company’s ongoing dedication to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed. At Betsson Group, diversity, equity and inclusion are more than buzzwords; they are embedded in the company’s culture, values and daily actions. In previous years, Betsson has been recognised at the WiG Diversity Awards for Best Diverse Place to Work (2022 and 2024), Company of the Year (2019 and 2022) and for Diversity & Inclusion (2021). For the individual categories, Betsson employees have previously won Excellence in Customer Service, Star of the Future and Young Leader of the Year.
The post Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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