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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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Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win
ICONIC21 adds Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win to its Buffalo slot series
New release follows Buffalo Wild Collection and includes Hold & Win jackpots and a Bonus Buy option.
ICONIC21 has launched Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win, a new online slot and the second title in the supplier’s Buffalo series following Buffalo Wild Collection.
The game is set on a prairie-themed backdrop and features up to 1,024 ways to win. ICONIC21 said the Free Spin round removes lower-value symbols from the reels, leaving only higher-value symbols in play.
The slot also includes a Hold & Win mechanic triggered when gold coins land and lock. ICONIC21 said the feature builds multipliers and coin values toward one of four jackpot tiers: Mini, Minor, Major or Grand.
Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win has a maximum prize of 10,000x stake and includes a Bonus Buy option to access bonus rounds. The release adds to ICONIC21’s slots line-up alongside its live casino, virtual, instant game and RNG table game portfolios.
Edvardas Sadovskis, Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win is built around a clear idea of stripping everything back to what matters most. The game’s Free Spin round does exactly that, putting the focus on the symbols with the highest potential.
“The Hold & Win feature then adds a second layer of engagement, turning the session into something more rhythmic as multipliers accumulate, and the jackpot tiers come into play. It’s a title with real bite, and we’re confident it will perform strongly for operators seeking to add a high-impact slot to their lobby.”
The post ICONIC21 adds Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win to its Buffalo slot series appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games Secures Strategic Partnership With Casino Portugal to Accelerate Growth in Southern Europe
Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, has announced a strategic partnership with Casino Portugal, one of the country’s most established and trusted online gaming platforms. The collaboration marks a significant step in Booming Games’ continued expansion across regulated European markets.
Through this partnership, Booming Games will integrate its portfolio of certified games into Casino Portugal’s platform, making a selection of its top-performing titles available to Portuguese players. The rollout will include popular releases such as Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 and Inferno Fortune Power Hit, alongside newer hits like Greedy for Gold Power Hit, Tasty Bonanza 10,000, Trollfufu Bonanza, and Diamond Hits Trio: InstaStrike.
Casino Portugal, operated by the renowned Estoril Sol Group, was the first licensed online casino to launch in Portugal in 2016 and has since established itself as a leader in the market. Known for its premium user experience, strong regulatory compliance, and entertainment-led approach, the brand continues to innovate through exclusive content and omnichannel engagement strategies.
The partnership reflects Booming Games’ commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant content tailored to local markets, while strengthening its footprint in Europe. As demand for engaging, innovative casino content continues to grow in Portugal, the collaboration positions both companies to capitalise on new opportunities and enhance the player experience.
Lucia Baranda, Head of Partnerships at Booming Games, said: “We are delighted to partner with Casino Portugal, a brand that stands out for its strong reputation, premium positioning, and commitment to innovation. This collaboration represents an important milestone in our European growth strategy and allows us to bring our engaging content to a wider audience in Portugal.”
Tiago Sousa, Casino Manager at Casino Portugal, said: “We are excited to welcome Booming Games to our platform. Their portfolio of high-performing and visually engaging titles aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering premium entertainment experiences to our players. We look forward to a successful partnership that will further enrich our offering.”
The post Booming Games Secures Strategic Partnership With Casino Portugal to Accelerate Growth in Southern Europe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETANO
Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team
Kaizen Gaming brand becomes an Official Regional Sponsor as World Cup 2026 approaches, with campaigns planned across digital, TV and OOH.
Betano has signed a new sponsorship agreement with the Argentina National Football Team, joining as an Official Regional Sponsor, the company said on April 29, 2026.
The deal was announced from Athens, Greece and Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the Kaizen Gaming-owned sports betting and gaming brand positioning the partnership ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to the company, the sponsorship will include “local 360° campaigns” featuring Betano’s tagline “Confiá” across digital media, television, and out-of-home (OOH) advertising. Betano also said it plans “high-engagement activations” intended to connect fans with the team.
In the release, Kaizen Gaming framed the agreement as part of a broader strategy to invest in top-tier sports partnerships to support international brand growth and “responsible gaming experiences.” Financial terms, territories covered under the “regional” designation, and contract duration were not disclosed.
More relevant data as follows:
- Betano (Kaizen Gaming) official website; https://www.betano.com/ Primary source for brand and market presence details related to Betano.
- Kaizen Gaming official website; https://kaizengaming.com/ Company background and corporate announcements for Kaizen Gaming, the owner of Betano.
- AFA (Argentine Football Association) official website; https://www.afa.com.ar/ Authoritative reference for Argentina national team commercial partnerships and federation announcements.
- FIFA World Cup 2026; https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Official tournament page to ground the timing reference to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The post Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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