Veikkaus has appointed Jyri Lassi as its new General Counsel and a member of the company’s management team. Lassi joins Veikkaus from electric vehicle charging service company Virta Global.

Lassi will start at Veikkaus on September 1, 2025. He will replace Hanna Kyrki, who is moving to Summa Defence, and whose last working day at Veikkaus will be at the end of July.

Lassi’s appointment strongly supports Veikkaus’ strategy to be a modern and competitive gambling company in the coming years, successful both nationally and internationally. Finland is moving to a partial multi-license market during 2026. After the change in the law, gambling companies other than Veikkaus will also be able to apply for a license in Finland for, for example, sports betting and online casinos.

“Jyri Lassi has very diverse work experience in responsible and challenging legal positions in internationally operating companies. I am convinced that with his expertise we will move forward in a determined and controlled manner in the changing operating environment of the gambling industry,” Olli Sarekoski , CEO of Veikkaus, said.

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Before Virta Global, Lassi has worked in management positions at Varjo Technologies, PayPal and Nokia, among others.

“Veikkaus is in an interesting situation as its monopoly position in Finland is being dissolved. The competitive situation offers the company great opportunities to grow and develop into an even more significant player, even internationally. It is a privilege to soon be part of that journey and to be able to influence Veikkaus’ new direction together with other employees of the company,” Lassi said.

Octoplay continues its rapid European expansion by partnering with Danske Spil, Denmark’s state-owned gambling operator. This strategic partnership brings Octoplay’s entire premium portfolio to another major Danish operator, significantly expanding the company’s footprint in the country and further strengthening its position across the Nordic region.

This partnership with Danske Spil reinforces Octoplay’s growing reputation in Europe’s regulated markets, as tier-one operators continue to seek out the company’s premium content with its proven performance metrics.

The collaboration follows recent notable launches with state-owned Svenska Spel in Sweden, Dutch market leader JACKS.NL, and Rank Group in the UK. It also adds another key Nordic market leader into Octoplay’s expanding list of partnerships.

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Ralitsa Georgieva, Director of Business Development at Octoplay, states: “Partnering with Danske Spil, Denmark’s most established and trusted gaming brand, represents a significant milestone in our European expansion. This aligns perfectly with our approach of securing direct partnerships with leading operators in each market we enter. With their deep roots and nationwide recognition, Danske Spil provides an exceptional platform to showcase our premium content to Danish players.”

Simon Hoffmann Riis, Senior Games & Analytics Manager at Danske Spil, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Octoplay as a trusted partner whose premium portfolio has consistently proven itself across European markets. Their data-driven approach to creating quality content aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering Danish players the most engaging and responsible entertainment experience possible.”

With active licenses in 10 regulated markets across Europe, the integration adds to Octoplay’s impressive commercial growth, which saw the company complete an average of five integrations per month throughout 2024 and agree commercial deals with over 80 operators. This European expansion runs parallel to the company’s North American growth, where Octoplay recently secured provisional licenses in Michigan and New Jersey, building on its approach of rapid market entry, strategic partnerships with market leaders, and consistent game innovation.