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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%.

Arizona Lottery

Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

scientific-games-rolls-out-momentum-systems-upgrade-for-arizona-lottery

New central gaming and retailer management systems support expanded draw game features across the Lottery’s 3,600 retail locations.

Scientific Games said a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery’s statewide sales, including updates to its draw games portfolio. The rollout is based on Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, incorporating a central gaming system and a retailer management system.

Arizona Lottery Executive Director Alec Thomson said the technology and game changes are intended to modernize operations and refresh the draw game lineup. “Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” Thomson said. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”

The Lottery’s draw game changes include an update to The Pick featuring an automatic multiplier on every play and an add-on called The Pick PLUS, the addition of a daily midday drawing for Pick 3, the launch of a new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings, and the addition of Powerball Double Play.

Scientific Games said it also upgraded its gem | suite software to support the expanded draw portfolio and to manage retailer licensing, communications and business intelligence across the Arizona Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers. “As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.

Scientific Games has supplied products and services to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands, and supports the Lottery from a Phoenix location, according to the company.

The post Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Flashscore: UK World Cup traffic hits 2.35M users ahead of England vs Norway

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

flashscore:-uk-world-cup-traffic-hits-2.35m-users-ahead-of-england-vs-norway

Flashscore says England vs Mexico is its fourth most-watched match globally so far, drawing 17.5M live followers on the app.

Flashscore reported a lift in UK fan engagement ahead of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway, citing new usage data from its tournament coverage.

The company said it has recorded 2.35M unique UK users and 387.7M views across its World Cup content so far, spanning live scores, match centres, previews, articles and audio.

Flashscore also pointed to deeper “second-screen” consumption patterns in the UK during the same period, including 1.6M match preview views, 1.23M article views and 147K audio plays.

In global terms, Flashscore said England ranks seventh for team profile opens. England’s Round of 16 match against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium was the fourth-most popular match of the tournament on the app, attracting 17.5M live followers and generating 53.2M views.

On player interest, Flashscore said England captain Harry Kane ranks 20th globally for player profile opens, with 3.9M—just behind Brazil’s Vinicius Junior on 4.0M. Norway striker Erling Haaland is eighth, with 5.7M profile opens.

The post Flashscore: UK World Cup traffic hits 2.35M users ahead of England vs Norway appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Amusnet Italy

Amusnet Italy Enters into Partnership with Entain

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-italy-enters-into-partnership-with-entain

Amusnet Italy has launched its premium gaming portfolio on Entain’s prominent online casino brands, bwin and Gioco Digitale, marking a significant step in strengthening its presence within the regulated Italian market.

Through this strategic partnership, local players will gain access to the provider’s premium casino content, known for its exceptional reliability, captivating mechanics and top-tier design. This launch marks the beginning of a phased rollout, with a fully certified portfolio consisting of 174 high-performing titles from Amusnet’s catalogue.

The initial release, which went live on July 1, features the majestic slot Extra Crown Classic Buy Bonus. This royal, fruit-themed game masterfully blends a traditional aesthetic with modern video slot dynamics, featuring expanding Crown Wilds and dual Scatter symbols. It elevates excitement with an innovative Buy Bonus option for instant action alongside Amusnet’s signature 4-level mystery Jackpot Cards bonus game, providing a truly immersive player experience.

“Partnering with premium brands like bwin and Gioco Digitale is a major milestone for our growth in Italy. Launching onto Entain’s platform allows us to reach a wider audience and bring high-quality entertainment to Italian players,” said Polina Nedyalkova, Amusnet Italy Director.

Both bwin and Gioco Digitale are premier online casino brands operating under the global sports betting and gaming giant Entain, utilising a shared platform to deliver secure and cutting-edge gaming experiences. By aligning with these highly trusted brands, Amusnet is well-positioned to leverage their robust market positioning and extensive, loyal user bases to drive long-term engagement and growth.

With this strategic alliance, Amusnet Italy reinforces its commitment to driving growth in the local iGaming market alongside top-tier operators.

The post Amusnet Italy Enters into Partnership with Entain appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.