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

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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):

 

  1. 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%.

 

  1. 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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Martin Lycka Joins Oddin.gg as Vice President of Institutional Affairs

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Oddin.gg has named Martin Lycka as Vice President of Institutional Affairs, enhancing the firm’s knowledge in regulation and responsible gambling as esports wagering grows in regulated markets worldwide.

Lycka offers over 15 years of high-level regulatory and responsible gambling expertise in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Most recently, he held the position of Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, where he directed regulatory strategy throughout the Americas and oversaw global esports regulatory issues. He additionally sits on the Board of Directors for the American Gaming Association.

Before joining Entain, Lycka had high-level regulatory positions at GVC Holdings and Paddy Power Betfair, overseeing licensing initiatives and regulatory strategy in various jurisdictions.

In his new position at Oddin.gg, Lycka will collaborate with regulators, policymakers, publishers, tournament organizers, and integrity bodies, making sure the company’s esports betting solutions keep up with changing compliance standards. Situated on the U.S. East Coast, Lycka will aid the company’s growth into more regulated markets worldwide, with this new role highlighting the increasing industry need for suppliers with substantial institutional trustworthiness.

Martin Lycka, VP Institutional Affairs at Oddin.gg, said: “Esports betting has experienced significant development within fully regulated environments. This has been the outcome of proactive engagement, education, transparency, and open dialogue with regulators. Oddin.gg, as an industry pioneer, has built its approach around those principles, and I’m looking forward to supporting the company as it scales across many more global markets.”

Marek Suchar, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Oddin.gg, added: “As esports betting continues to scale, institutional credibility becomes just as important as product quality. Martin brings deep regulatory experience and a practical understanding of what regulators seek to become comfortable with innovative betting products. His appointment strengthens our ability to engage constructively with regulators, addressing integrity, governance, and technological concerns, and to support partners operating in complex regulatory environments.”

The post Martin Lycka Joins Oddin.gg as Vice President of Institutional Affairs appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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IZI Finance

IZI Finance Delivers Impressive Growth Across Its Divisions

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IZI Finance plc, the financial subsidiary of IZIGROUP, today revealed impressive interim results for the six-month period ending 31st December 2025, highlighting exceptional growth in all its revenue-producing business sectors. The results showcase the Group’s disciplined financial approach, operational robustness, and the ongoing enhancement of its primary gaming endeavors.

Throughout the reviewed period, the Group maintained steady progress across its varied portfolio, supported by consistent cash flows, careful cost control, and a persistent commitment to long-term value generation for stakeholders. The favorable outcomes further illustrate the Group’s balance sheet robustness and its capability to implement strategic priorities.

The Group reported a turnover of €561 million, representing a 25% increase compared to the previous year, while Player Winnings rose by €104 million relative to the same timeframe last year. This endeavor led to unprecedented Gaming Revenues of €53.9 million, showing a rise of €8.6 million (a 19% enhancement compared to the same timeframe of the prior financial year). The Group additionally announced impressive profitability growth, concluding the 6-month timeframe with an EBITDA of €18.1 million, reflecting a 35% rise in comparison to the same period last year. Net profit before tax rose to €6.9 million, a gain of €4.2 million, signifying a 156% increase compared to the €2.7 million NPBT recorded in the same period last year. The Group is anticipated to exceed the FY2026 financial goals, with forecasted revenue expected to surpass the €1 billion level as Gross Gaming Revenues are projected to reach over €100 million.

These results underpin and support the Group’s international expansion strategy, reinforcing the rationale previously communicated to the market on January 19, 2026, wherein the Board of Directors of IZI Finance plc announced that it is actively seeking to return to the market with a second issuance of bonds on the Official List of the Malta Stock Exchange. Subject to the necessary regulatory approvals being obtained, the proceeds of the proposed €30 million bond issue would go towards supporting the next phase of IZIGROUP’s growth strategy via international expansion, building on the strong foundations established in recent years. The Group announced that it has already identified several feasible and well-advanced international growth opportunities, and this issuance would be designed to provide the financial latitude required to pursue them in a disciplined and sustainable manner.

Commenting on the outlook, the Board remains confident that the Group is well positioned to build on its current momentum and pursue sustainable growth in the medium to long term. The Board also highlighted that the Group will be leveraging its proven operational expertise, regulatory experience and management of large-scale, concession-based gaming environments, with a view to exporting its successful operating model to international gaming markets.

The post IZI Finance Delivers Impressive Growth Across Its Divisions appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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ZITRO INSTALLS OVER 70 MACHINES ACROSS GRUPO ALADDIN CASINOS IN COLOMBIA

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Zitro is expanding its presence in Colombia with the deployment of more than 70 machines across Grupo Aladdin venues in key cities, including Cali, Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Pereira. This rollout strengthens Zitro’s position in the Colombian market and its partnership with one of the country’s leading casino operators.

The lineup includes proven performers such as Fu Frog, Fu Pots, and King Fu Frog—titles that have delivered strong results in gaming floors nationwide.

“We are also introducing a Wide Area Progressive (WAP) as part of the gaming experience on our Altius Glare cabinets. Given its track record, we are confident this will be a significant success for the group,” says Iván Gómez, Sales Manager at Zitro Colombia.

Jorge E. Vélez, Director of Gaming Technology and IT at Grupo Aladdin, comments: “Expanding our portfolio alongside a leading supplier like Zitro is a significant milestone for us. The performance of these titles has exceeded our expectations, further reinforcing the long-standing trust we place in their products.”

Alejandra Burato, Zitro’s Regional Director for Latin America, adds: “We are very pleased to see our games featured across Grupo Aladdin’s venues. This partnership is a reflection of the success of our expansion strategy in Colombia and our commitment to delivering high-performing products to the market.”

The post ZITRO INSTALLS OVER 70 MACHINES ACROSS GRUPO ALADDIN CASINOS IN COLOMBIA appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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