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Survey: Supporters of Centre Party, Finns Party and National Coalition Party are against the Government’s decision concerning Veikkaus Ltd
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%.
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BIG Cyber
BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SPONSOR AND EXHIBIT AT SBC RIO 2026 MARCH 3–5 AT RIOCENTRO, RIO DE JANEIRO
BMM Innovation Group (BIG) has confirmed its sponsorship and exhibition at SBC Summit Rio, taking place March 3–5, 2026, at Riocentro. Attendees can visit the company at Stand A816 to explore its latest compliance, cybersecurity, and training solutions for the regulated gaming sector.
Headquartered in Las Vegas, BMM Innovation Group continues to expand its presence in Latin America, supporting Brazil’s rapidly growing regulated betting and iGaming market.
Strengthening Compliance in Brazil’s Regulated Market
At SBC Rio 2026, BIG will spotlight BMM Testlabs and its comprehensive product compliance testing and certification services. With an established office in São Paulo and 15 additional global locations, BMM Testlabs works closely with regulators, operators, and suppliers across Brazil and Latin America.
As Brazil’s regulated sports betting and online gaming market accelerates, compliance, responsible gaming, and player protection remain top priorities. BMM Testlabs ensures that fixed-odds betting systems and online gaming platforms meet Brazilian regulatory standards, supporting secure and transparent market growth.
Marzia Turrini, President of iGaming & Cybersecurity at BMM Testlabs, highlighted Brazil as one of the world’s most dynamic gaming markets, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance and system security in driving sustainable expansion.
Cybersecurity and Responsible Gaming Solutions
In addition to compliance services, BIG will present solutions from:
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BIG Cyber – Delivering penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, PCI:DSS evaluations, and managed cybersecurity services to protect operators and suppliers from emerging threats.
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RG24seven Virtual Training – Providing compliance-focused online training programs covering Responsible Gaming and Anti-Money Laundering (AML), with content available in Portuguese and Spanish to support regional operators.
Together, these solutions reinforce BIG’s mission to serve the full gaming ecosystem—from product certification and cybersecurity protection to regulatory training and workforce education.
Meet BMM Innovation Group at SBC Rio
Industry professionals attending SBC Summit Rio 2026 are invited to schedule in-person meetings with BMM Innovation Group representatives to discuss compliance, cybersecurity, and training strategies tailored to Brazil’s evolving regulatory landscape.
More about the event to meet with BMM representatives at https://sbcnews.co.uk/events/2026/02/25/sbc-summit-rio-2026-2/
The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SPONSOR AND EXHIBIT AT SBC RIO 2026 MARCH 3–5 AT RIOCENTRO, RIO DE JANEIRO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
La Ciudad autónoma acudirá de nuevo a Madrid para reforzar su compromiso con la Industria
La próxima edición de Interazar volverá a ser el gran punto de encuentro de la Industria del Juego española y contará, una vez más, con la participación activa del Gobierno de Ceuta, que reafirma así su compromiso firme y continuado con un Sector del todo determinante para su modelo económico.
Ceuta vuelve a la Feria Española del Juego los próximos días 28 y 29 de abril en IFEMA con un mensaje claro: la Ciudad se ha convertido en uno de los grandes polos de atracción para la Industria del Juego y la tecnología, ya no sólo en España, sino en Europa. La presencia institucional ceutí servirá para continuar mostrando las ventajas fiscales únicas de la Ciudad, su seguridad jurídica y un ecosistema cada vez más maduro, que ya alberga a buena parte de las principales compañías del Juego online que operan en España.
La apuesta del Gobierno de Ceuta por el Sector no es coyuntural. Los datos avalan un modelo que ha generado empleo cualificado, incrementando de forma notable la recaudación pública y situando a la Ciudad como un hub tecnológico de referencia. Interazar se presenta así, como el foro natural para reforzar la relación con las empresas ya implantadas y para abrir nuevas vías de colaboración con Operadores y proveedores que buscan un entorno competitivo y estable desde el que crecer.
La combinación entre un certamen con identidad propia como Interazar, y una Administración que ha sabido entender el potencial del Sector, convierte esta participación en una muestra más de una estrategia coherente y sostenida en el tiempo.
The post Ceuta refuerza su apuesta por el Juego en Interazar, la gran Feria española del Sector appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
EMERGENCY HQ
EMERGENCY Developer Sixteen Tons on Record Growth Trajectory: Studio Appoints Creator of Billion-Dollar Hit June’s Journey as Chief Creative Officer
Sixteen Tons Entertainment, the studio behind the award-winning EMERGENCY series, today announced the appointment of Sebastian Nußbaum as Chief Creative Officer. A lifelong fan of the franchise and an accomplished creative leader in the European games industry, Nußbaum joins CEO Jan Richter’s leadership team to guide the next phase of EMERGENCY’s growth.
Nußbaum’s connection to EMERGENCY spans back to the franchise’s earliest titles, drawn to its unique blend of authentic simulation and strategic gameplay. This personal passion, combined with Sixteen Tons’ recent performance, made joining the studio an easy decision.
Over 200% Revenue Growth for EMERGENCY HQ
Since Jan Richter became CEO in mid-2024, EMERGENCY HQ has achieved remarkable growth, with monthly revenue increasing by more than 200% in just 18 months — eight years after its original launch. The growth has been almost entirely organic, fueled by consistent content updates, live events, and expansion into international markets, particularly the United States. The studio now employs approximately 35 team members.
From Niche Franchise to Billion-Dollar Potential
At Wooga, Nußbaum served as Vice President Creative, leading the development of June’s Journey and Pearl’s Peril, turning them into globally successful titles with June’s Journey generating over $1 billion in lifetime revenue. He now brings this expertise to Sixteen Tons, aiming to scale EMERGENCY into its next era.
Leadership Comments
“The growth of EMERGENCY HQ over the past 18 months demonstrates the true potential of this brand — and we are still early,” said Jan Richter, CEO of Sixteen Tons. “Sebastian brings not only creative vision and passion, but also the operational expertise to elevate the franchise and redefine its genre. His decision to join our team validates our ambitions and motivates us to raise the bar even further.”
Nußbaum added:
“What Jan and the team have achieved with EMERGENCY HQ is truly impressive. The dynamic growth, clarity of strategy, and strength of the team made it clear that something special is happening at Sixteen Tons. I’m excited to contribute to the evolution of this brand and help realize its enormous potential.”
Sixteen Tons at GDC 2026
Sixteen Tons Entertainment will showcase its development at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, March 9–13. CEO Jan Richter will present insights into the transformation of EMERGENCY HQ and its record revenue growth, while Sebastian Nußbaum will be available for interviews and media engagements.
The post EMERGENCY Developer Sixteen Tons on Record Growth Trajectory: Studio Appoints Creator of Billion-Dollar Hit June’s Journey as Chief Creative Officer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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