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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%.

Cevro

Golden Whale and Cevro team up to advance AI-driven player interaction

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

golden-whale-and-cevro-team-up-to-advance-ai-driven-player-interaction

Golden Whale, a provider of machine learning-driven optimisation and decision intelligence for the iGaming industry, has partnered with Cevro, an AI-powered platform designed to automate and enhance player interactions across support and operational workflows.

At the core of the integration is Golden Whale’s Full Model Control framework, which uses ML models to continuously analyse live player behavioural data, enabling more precise decisioning across engagement and incentives, driven by deeper insight into player value, churn probability and behavioural intent. These decisions can then be actioned through Cevro’s AI agents, allowing operators to guide and control player-facing responses with greater precision across multiple channels, including chat, email and helpdesk, with voice capabilities set to follow.

Cevro’s platform supports a wide range of player-facing processes, including bonus queries, KYC checks, payment-related communications and responsible gaming workflows. By introducing decision intelligence into these touchpoints, operators can move beyond reactive support models and toward more proactive, context-aware engagement, where responses are informed by real-time signals around player value and behaviour.

Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, said: “Operators are managing an increasing number of player communications across different touchpoints, and many of those processes are still handled in a reactive or manual way. By working with Cevro’s AI agents, we can connect our decision intelligence directly into these communication workflows, enabling operators to respond more precisely and consistently, while also reducing the complexity of managing these interactions at scale.”

Chaim Heber, CEO at Cevro, added: “Our focus is on helping operators automate and scale player interactions without losing quality or control. By integrating Golden Whale’s decision intelligence, we can bring a new level of precision into how our AI agents operate, using deeper signals around player value, churn risk and behaviour to guide responses. This not only improves resolution and efficiency but also allows operators to deliver more meaningful interactions that support retention and long-term player value.”

The post Golden Whale and Cevro team up to advance AI-driven player interaction appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bet365

Evoplay strengthens Brazil footprint with bet365 deal

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

evoplay-strengthens-brazil-footprint-with-bet365-deal

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has strengthen its presence in Brazil through a new partnership with leading global operator bet365, marking another step in its growth across regulated Latin American markets.

The agreement sees a selection of top-performing Evoplay titles integrated onto bet365’s Brazilian platform, initially starting with standout releases such as Hot Triple Sevens and Temple of Thunder II Bonus Buy.

The partnership enables Evoplay to bring its diverse portfolio of high-performance content to one of the most promising emerging regulated markets, at a time when Brazil’s evolving landscape continues to create new opportunities for operators and suppliers alike.

By collaborating with bet365, a globally recognised brand known for its extensive reach and strong local engagement, Evoplay reinforces its commitment to delivering tailored content that resonates with regional player preferences.

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Partnering with bet365 represents an important milestone for Evoplay as we continue to expand our Latin American presence and build our network of global operator brands. Brazil is a market with huge potential, and we’re excited to bring a selection of our best-performing titles to its players.

“Our focus remains on supporting operators with content that not only meets regulatory standards but also delivers strong player engagement, and this collaboration is a testament to that approach.”

Spokesperson at bet365, added: “We are pleased to partner with Evoplay as we continue to enhance our offering in Brazil.

Their portfolio of localised games aligns well with our commitment to provide high-quality gaming experiences to our customers.

“We look forward to rolling out additional titles in the near future as we strengthen our collaboration with the supplier in this key market.”

Evoplay

Evoplay is a leading iGaming developer with a portfolio of 250+ slots, table, crash, and instant games.

It uses innovative gameplay and cutting-edge design to elevate user experience and bring new audiences to the world of iGaming.

The company’s commitment to innovation and revolutionary products was recognised by the most prestigious industry awards.

bet365

At bet365, it’s always extraordinary!

bet365 Casino is the home of gaming excitement, offering an extensive range of slots to choose from, including multi-layered jackpots, classic fruit games, and the latest innovative titles. Plus, with popular Live Games like Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, there’s always something for every player.

bet365 is committed to Safer Gambling. We promote gambling as an enjoyable leisure activity, and we believe that gambling can only remain this way if you stay in control and gamble responsibly. However, we know that for some people gambling can stop being a harmless leisure activity and become a problem.

bet365 has a range of useful tools to help customers stay in control of their gambling that can be found at https://responsiblegambling.bet365.bet.br/br

The post Evoplay strengthens Brazil footprint with bet365 deal appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Advisiments

WE names Valentina Ursini Group Account Director for IBJR and key clients

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

we-names-valentina-ursini-group-account-director-for-ibjr-and-key-clients

Brazilian agency We has hired Valentina Ursini as Group Account Director, where she will lead business strategy and client relationships for accounts including EMS, Novibet, Jovi and IBJR (Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming).

Ursini brings experience from Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and TBWA, where she led global and local accounts for brands including Visa, Procter & Gamble, Motorola, Gatorade, Coty, Kimberly-Clark and Friboi.

“We has something that is rare today: genuine proximity to the client’s business and a very clear ambition for shared growth,” Ursini said.

“I am joining a team that already knows these clients deeply, and I bring a fresh perspective on expansion opportunities, efficiency and brand building.

It is about developing the business in a consistent and relevant way.”

Maurício Almeida, managing director at We, said Ursini’s appointment raises the standard of service for the agency’s strategic accounts.

“She combines expertise, consistency and a very pragmatic business vision, which is exactly what we look for in our model. She understands that client relationships only make sense when they translate into results.”

* The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming is a private industry association representing licensed betting operators in Brazil. Its primary role is to support the development of a regulated, transparent and sustainable gambling market in the country.

The organization focuses on promoting responsible gaming practices, contributing to public policy discussions, and working alongside regulators to ensure compliance with Brazil’s evolving legal framework for betting.

It also advocates for consumer protection, market integrity and the reduction of illegal gambling activities.

In the context of the article, the IBJR appears as a relevant institutional player within the Brazilian iGaming ecosystem, reflecting the growing importance of industry representation as regulation advances.

The post WE names Valentina Ursini Group Account Director for IBJR and key clients appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.