Latest News

Survey: Supporters of Centre Party, Finns Party and National Coalition Party are against the Government’s decision concerning Veikkaus Ltd

Published

6 years ago

July 15, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Finnish Government’s decision to make budget appropriations in order to fully compensate Veikkaus Ltd.’s beneficiaries for the decline in Veikkaus’s revenue from gambling divides the Finnish people into two, almost equal-sized opposing camps, as indicated by the survey commissioned from Bilendi Oy.

Finns are split almost exactly in half over whether or not the Finnish Government reached the right solution in deciding to make budget appropriations to fully compensate Veikkaus Ltd.’s beneficiaries for the decline in Veikkaus’s revenue from gambling in 2020.

In March this year, Veikkaus Ltd, the government-owned betting agency that holds a monopoly in Finland, shut down its gambling machines in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and petrol stations due to the coronavirus crisis. Additionally, sports betting has faced an exceptional situation, as many popular sports have temporarily ceased.

41% of Finns are in favour of the Government’s decision to fully compensate the beneficiaries for the decline in revenue, while 38% of them are against it. The rest cannot say how they feel about it.

These are some of the findings of a survey conducted by the market research company Bilendi Oy as part of its M3 Panel, a nationwide consumer panel, between 10 and 13 July 2020, on commission by Kasino Curt, the gambling information website (https://kasinocurt.com/). The margin of error in the survey is ±3.1 percentage points. A total of 1,000 Finnish adults responded to the survey, and the sample was weighted by age, gender and place of residence to represent the Finnish population on a national scale.

Out of all parties’ supporters, the decision by the Government headed by Prime Minister Sanna Marin arouses the most opposition among Finns Party voters, of whom just 31 percent relate favourably to it. Out of the Cabinet parties’ supporters, Centre Party voters are against the Government’s decision; merely 37 percent of them are in favour of it. Likewise, supporters of the National Coalition Party and the minor parties are against the Government’s decision.

“On the whole, the difference between the support and opposition is so small that it falls within the margin of error. However, different age groups relate very differently to the matter. The 18-24-year-olds feel most negatively about the decision, whereas among the 45-54-year-olds, as many as 47 percent consider the decision a good one,” says Janne Juntunen, Senior Client Service Manager for Bilendi Oy.

Gambling machines in grocery stores: a sign of the post-COVID-19 era?

In June, Veikkaus publicly announced it will restart the gambling machines on 15 July. Veikkaus also announced it will do so with attention to the health risks caused by COVID-19, which seems to have convinced the Finnish people.

According to Kasino Curt’s survey, 46% of Finns approve of Veikkaus’s decision to turn the gambling machines back on while 30% of them disapprove of it. The rest cannot say how they feel about it.

“The coronavirus epidemic was not mentioned in conjunction with the survey for impartiality reasons, but the respondents may have thought that the restart of Veikkaus’s gambling machines is a sign of the post-COVID-19 era,” Juntunen mentions.

Last year, Kasino Curt commissioned two similar surveys from Bilendi. The findings of these surveys indicated that more Finns support than oppose the idea of abolishing Finland’s gambling monopoly and adopting a gambling licence system and that Finns are suspicious of the Finnish MPs’ motives in gambling matters.

The results of all the three surveys are still available online at https://kasinocurt.com.

Listed below are the statements of the most recent survey and those responses that indicated agreement or disagreement with them (that is to say, the responses “Cannot say” are not included in the listing):

In March this year, Veikkaus Ltd shut down its gambling machines in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and petrol stations. On 15 July, Veikkaus will turn the gambling machines back on. In my opinion, the decision to restart the gambling machines is the right one. Agree 46%, disagree 30%.

The Finnish Government has decided to make budget appropriations in order to fully compensate Veikkaus Ltd.’s beneficiaries for the decline in Veikkaus’s revenue from gambling in 2020. In my opinion, this is right. (The beneficiaries are represented by a number of organisations.) Agree 41%, disagree 38%.

ADM

Peter & Sons says it now reaches 70% of Italy’s ADM-licensed operator market

Published

46 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

peter-&-sons-says-it-now-reaches-70%-of-italy’s-adm-licensed-operator-market

Studio cites integrations with Sisal, SNAI, PokerStars, Eurobet, Betsson Italy, Lottomatica, Goldbet and Diecimilauno via Octavian and Light & Wonder.

Peter & Sons said it has expanded its distribution in Italy and is now live with approximately 70% of the country’s leading operators under the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) license.

The studio attributed the milestone to operator partnerships including Sisal, SNAI, PokerStars, Eurobet, Betsson Italy, Lottomatica, and Goldbet and Diecimilauno, with distribution supported by aggregators Octavian and Light & Wonder. Peter & Sons said the network is expected to grow further.

Italy remains one of Europe’s most established regulated iGaming markets, with concentrated operator share and extensive go-live requirements. Peter & Sons said Italian players can access titles including Barbarossa Dragon Empire, Barbarossa Revenge, and Thunderhawk.

Lauryn Duncan, Head of Sales at Peter & Sons, said: “Italy has become one of our most important markets, not because it was new to us, but because of how quickly it has evolved into a key part of our distribution network. Reaching 70% of the market is a strong validation of the partnerships we’ve built with leading operators and aggregators. It’s a market that demands quality, structure, and consistency, and we’re proud to see our games resonate so well within that environment.”

The post Peter & Sons says it now reaches 70% of Italy’s ADM-licensed operator market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blue Bird Bonus

EdgeLabs Signs Content Partnership with Stake

Published

46 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

edgelabs-signs-content-partnership-with-stake

EdgeLabs has signed a new content partnership with Stake that will bring more than 50 games from the EdgeLabs portfolio to the platform, including Blue Bird Bonus, Diamond 10x and Mark of Z, alongside casino-style titles such as Emily’s Treasure and Kandy Land Keno. The agreement expands EdgeLabs’ reach with a major global operator while giving Stake access to additional multilingual content and promotional tools across key markets.

In addition to its slot titles, Stake will also leverage EdgeLabs’ casino-style games, including the fish-shooting title Emily’s Treasure and keno game Kandy Land Keno, enhancing the overall player experience within its ecosystem.

Founded in 2017, Stake has rapidly become one of the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook. With a major focus on community engagement, the platform also offers a sweepstakes casino model, providing free-to-play experiences to its users.

Similarly, EdgeLabs’ team brings decades of industry experience, building a high-quality game portfolio supported across 35 languages and 95 currencies, with reach across North America, Europe and Asia. The studio focuses on optimizing partnerships through offering bespoke content, pre-release exclusives and a fully integrated suite of promotional tools.

By combining efforts, both companies aim to accelerate their respective commercial growth objectives and further establish themselves as key players for online free-to-play entertainment.

Marina Rodov, CEO of EdgeLabs, said: “We’re delighted to take our relationship with Stake to the next level. We will now be able to work closely and mutually boost our business by providing our best-in-class games, promotional tools, and account management. We are confident that with our games and Stake’s volumes, this will be a fruitful partnership for both companies.”

Caelum Ferrarese of Stake said: “We’re very excited to begin our partnership with Edgelabs. With Edgelabs’ catalogue of top-quality slots content, combined with a close, working relationship, the sky is the limit for what we can achieve together across a wide range of markets.”

The post EdgeLabs Signs Content Partnership with Stake appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Australia

IGS Awarded 15-Year Electronic Gaming Machine Monitoring Licence in Victoria

Published

46 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

igs-awarded-15-year-electronic-gaming-machine-monitoring-licence-in-victoria

Bally’s Intralot S.A. (Bally’s Intralot) has announced that its Australian subsidiary, Intralot Gaming Services (IGS) has been awarded a new 15-year Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Monitoring Licence for the State of Victoria, effective 16 August 2027.

This landmark award positions Bally’s Intralot to deliver a new generation of technology, transparency and collaboration to one of the world’s most mature and highly regulated gaming markets.

Approximately 26,300 EGMs will be connected to the Monitoring System which will provide a vital role in ensuring the ongoing integrity of EGM transactions in gaming venues. It will also provide data and information on EGMs for regulatory, harm minimisation, taxation and research purposes.

Under the licence, IGS will also be responsible for the delivery, operation and maintenance of the statewide Pre-commitment System for all EGMs in Victoria, including 2628 EGMs at the Melbourne casino.

A New Technology Era for Victoria

IGS will deploy a next-generation, cloud-enabled monitoring platform designed to deliver:

• Real-time monitoring and reporting

• Advanced data analytics capabilities

• Best-in-class cybersecurity protections

• Scalable architecture to support evolving regulatory requirements

• Future-ready integration enabling seamless connectivity with venues, manufacturers and regulatory systems

“This award represents a major milestone for Bally’s Intralot and IGS and is a significant investment in the future of Victoria’s gaming technology infrastructure. We look forward to working with the Victorian Government, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, and industry stakeholders to deliver a secure and transparent monitoring system that supports integrity and player protection,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group.

IGS and Bally’s Intralot will commence planning and stakeholder engagement in the coming months to support a carefully managed, smooth and seamless transition.

The post IGS Awarded 15-Year Electronic Gaming Machine Monitoring Licence in Victoria appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.