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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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Club Race
Trophy Hunter deepens its social gameplay with a new Club vs Club competitive mode
Trophy Hunter is taking another major step in building a deeply social and competitive experience for its players. The latest update introduces Club Race – a Club vs Club mode, delivering real-time competition, strategic decision-making, and intense cooperation between club members. The new feature strengthens the social foundations of the game and offers players a completely new way to compete together as a team.
Club Race is a highly competitive, real-time mode where four clubs race against each other on a shared track, represented by powerful jeeps on a shared race track. Each club controls one vehicle, and success depends entirely on the combined effort, skill, and strategy of its members. The event takes place twice a week, lasts three days, and is played across four globally selected locations, identical for all participating clubs to ensure fair competition.
– “Social engagement has always been the heart of Trophy Hunter. With Club Race, we are giving players a mode that truly rewards cooperation, communication, and smart strategy. Every hunt matters, every decision counts, and success is shared across the entire club. This mode perfectly reflects our long-term vision for the game and sets Trophy Hunter apart in the genre,” says Jakub Noganowicz, Product Owner of Trophy Hunter and Hunting Clash.
Club vs Club Mode – competition powered by teamwork and strategy
Club Race introduces a new kind of excitement to Trophy Hunter, where individual skill fuels collective success. Players hunt on their own, but every action immediately strengthens their club’s position in the race. Each hunt becomes a meaningful contribution, turning personal performance into visible progress shared by the entire team.
What makes the mode especially engaging is the constant sense of choice and impact. Before every hunt, players decide how their effort will help the club – pushing their team closer to victory or slowing down rivals. This layer of strategy transforms every session into a moment of tension and anticipation, where teamwork and timing matter as much as precision.
The race unfolds live and on screen, allowing players to follow the competition in real time. Club positions, progress, and momentum are always visible, keeping engagement high from the first hunt to the final stretch. The shared goal, combined with the presence of rival clubs throughout the event, creates a dynamic experience that encourages communication, coordination, and long-term commitment.
A social experience at the core of the roadmap
The Club Race update reinforces Trophy Hunter’s focus on social play and player-driven competition. Players always face three rival clubs and see all opponents on the track, regardless of their current advantage. Every hunt actively influences the outcome of the race. The mode allows clubs to define their own tactics – deciding when to push forward, when to slow down rivals, and how to maximize team performance.
The update also integrates seamlessly with existing social features ensuring a consistent and evolving experience aligned with the game’s roadmap. By combining real-time competition, visible team progress, and meaningful player choices, Club Race delivers a unique and engaging social gameplay loop.
New arenas – a growing world for competition and cooperation
Trophy Hunter has been systematically expanding its game world since its global premiere, regularly introducing new arenas that offer players fresh environments, hunting conditions, and tactical challenges. New locations have been added at least once a month, reinforcing the game’s consistent development and delivering new adventures and experiences for players. The most recent arena was introduced on December 5, bringing the total number of available arenas to 16.
Each arena provides a distinct setting that encourages players to experiment with different weapons, refine their skills, and adapt their strategies to varying conditions. This steady expansion not only keeps the gameplay fresh but also supports long-term player engagement by continuously opening new spaces for challenge and mastery.
With the introduction of Club Race, these arenas now gain an additional role. They become shared battlegrounds for club-based competition, where teams race, attack rivals, and define their strategies across globally selected locations. In this way, the growing portfolio of arenas strengthens both solo progression and the social, cooperative experience that lies at the core of Trophy Hunter’s roadmap.
The post Trophy Hunter deepens its social gameplay with a new Club vs Club competitive mode appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Arctic Theme
Spinomenal releases wintery wonder: Majestic Polar Bear
Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has released its winter wonder just in time for Christmas with the launch of Majestic Polar Bear.
Spinomenal’s latest festive holiday treat transports players into a pristine Arctic wilderness, where towering glaciers, snow-dusted cliffs, and shimmering ice fields stretch beneath a vast polar sky. The 5×3 design is fixed within a frosted frame that is enhanced with a magical, calming soundtrack, blending soft chimes, airy melodies, and gentle ambient tones to celebrate the majesty of the polar environment.
The majestic Polar Bear symbols represent the Wild and counts as any symbol except double symbols, Free Spins and Bonus. Five Wilds on a winning line pays players a cool x200. Anyone landing three Free Spins symbols will launch the Free Spins game. Before embarking on the feature, players must take a turn on the Wheel of Fortune to determine the free spins total, between 10 and 40, and the symbol that doubles for the round.
A glowing group of polar crystals acts at the Bonus feature and three of these will trigger the bonus game. Players are initially given three spins, and the objective is to fill the metre by collecting Scattered winning symbols. Every five symbols found completes one cell in the metre. Players who discover a +1 symbol will be awarded with an extra spin and once the spins end there will be the final payout determined by the final filled metre cell.
Majestic Polar Bear also features Stacked Wilds where once the reels are spinning, Wild symbols have the power to appear on the reels to boost the potential of a win. During the base game, Only Double Symbols can be activated, making all symbols show in their double form.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “With breath-taking visuals, cool mechanics, and a tranquil landscape, Majestic Polar Bear delivers a magical escape just in time for Christmas where every spin feels both relaxing and rewarding.”
The post Spinomenal releases wintery wonder: Majestic Polar Bear appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Arena Racing Company
Arena Racing Company awarded United Arab Emirates Gaming-Related Vendor License
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has been granted a Gaming-Related Vendor license from the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.
The license, operational with immediate effect, affords ARC the opportunity to provide its products and services to licensed operators in the region. Notably, the Racing1 Markets service, an all-in-one horse and greyhound racing solution delivered in conjunction with Racing1 alliance media rights partners at 1/ST CONTENT, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and Tabcorp, alongside technical partner Pythia Sports. ARC has been added to the list of licensed vendors as per the GCGRA website.
Jack Whitaker, Commercial Manager at ARC, said: “Obtaining this license is a great achievement for ARC and its Racing1 partners. The emerging regulated UAE market is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to showcasing our innovative products and services in the region.”
The post Arena Racing Company awarded United Arab Emirates Gaming-Related Vendor License appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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