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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%.

bet365

Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup

Published

4 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

incentive-games-and-bet365-refresh-tournament-challenge-for-the-2026-world-cup

Incentive Games has refreshed its Tournament Challenge free-to-play football predictor in partnership with bet365 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The game sits in bet365’s free games portfolio and will be accessible via the operator’s website and app.

Tournament Challenge lets players predict match outcomes (win, lose or draw) across Group Stage match days and the Knockout Rounds. Players allocate a 10-point stake to each prediction, with returns based on the odds of the selected outcome, and can double points on one prediction per round. Match days and rounds are released individually during the tournament.

New for 2026, the product adds “Your Leagues”, a private league feature that lets players create and join groups using league codes, compare predictions and track performance. Incentive Games said further updates are planned during the tournament.

Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting moments on the planet, and Tournament Challenge is designed to bring fans even closer to it. We wanted to create something competitive, social and easy to jump into throughout the tournament. The addition of ‘Your Leagues’ adds a whole new dimension this year, giving players the chance to compete directly with friends and share the experience together. We’re incredibly proud to continue working alongside the fantastic team at bet365 to bring this to life.”

Rhead Hilton, bet365 Software Product Development Manager said, “With the World Cup bringing together fans from all over the world, Tournament Challenge gives bet365 customers a valuable opportunity to get closer to the action.

We are pleased to offer a free-to-play experience that is straightforward, engaging and built around competition, with our Your Leagues feature adding a social dimension that allows players to challenge one another directly and compare predictions. We are also proud to continue our partnership with Incentive Games and deliver another strong product for our customers.”

According to the companies, Tournament Challenge will be available across key global territories, alongside dedicated standalone versions for Brazil, Spain, Italy and Greece. bet365’s terms state the promotion is “only available to new and eligible bet365 customers”, is limited to one entry per person, and closes “at kick-off of the last scheduled tournament game on 19th July 2026.”

The post Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

EGT Digital

EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

egt-digital-brings-operators-the-ultimate-advantage-ahead-of-the-world-cup

Having the World Cup on the horizon, sportsbook operators are once again preparing for the intense demands that come with peak sporting activity, including surging traffic, increased betting volume, and sustained operational pressure.

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook enables Operators to navigate high-demand periods with stability, flexibility, and control.

Major sports events do not introduce new challenges. They amplify existing ones. Platform performance is tested, trading teams operate under pressure, and retention becomes just as critical as acquisition.

Performance When It Matters Most

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook is designed to perform when expectations are the highest. Built on cloud-native best practices and out-of-the-box scalability, our solution empowers operators to manage peak traffic and continuous activity while ensuring stability and reliability.

Turning Traffic into Long-Term Value

While major events drive player acquisition, long-term value depends on retention. Sportsbook equips operators with a fully configurable set of promotional tools designed to sustain engagement during high-activity periods without adding operational complexity.

Features such as Adjustable Margins, Boosted Bet Builders, Dynamic Parlays, Progressive Jackpot, Early Payouts, Acca Insurance, Price Boosts, and Free Bets give operators the flexibility to tailor campaigns in real time according to player behavior and market dynamics.

Built with automation in mind, the system allows precise control across player segments, sports, and events – helping operators transform traffic spikes into sustained player loyalty.

Flexible Trading, Controlled Risk

High-volume events place trading operations under constant pressure. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook supports both managed and hybrid trading models, giving Operators the flexibility to choose the level of control and support that best fits their business.

Teams are able to manage risk effectively, protect margins, and stay focused without sacrificing the players experience and expectations even during the most demanding schedules and fixtures.

Your Brand, Your Rules.

With EGT Digital’s Next Gen AI CMS, operators can seamlessly manage every aspect of their Sportsbook’s look and behavior, tailoring the experience to specific markets without relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

One Platform Across Channels

Player behaviour during major events is fluid, with customers moving between Online and Retail environments. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook provides a unified experience across channels, delivering one platform and one operational view.

The post EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

FIRST.bet

FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

first.bet-launches-ultracup:-a-player-engagement-engine-for-the-world-cup

FIRST.bet introduces UltraCup: a single destination that keeps players engaged across the entire World Cup – live group standings, knockout brackets, tournament Outrights, Blind Bets on matchups before they’re even drawn, and automatic Bet Builder boosts in the slip. Everything fans need to follow and bet the tournament in one place, from the first whistle to the last.

FIRST.bet, the Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider, today launched UltraCup, a World Cup-focused sportsbook engine built to help operators own the biggest betting event in football.

The next World Cup is not a short tournament spike. It is 48 teams, 104 matches and one continuous peak with no recovery window. UltraCup is built for that reality, giving operators a complete tournament destination that keeps players engaged from the opening group match through to the final.

UltraCup connects the full World Cup betting journey in one place: live group standings, tournament-context match listings, bracket navigation from R32 to the final, dynamic outrights, Blind Bets on future matchups and automatic Bet Builder boosts inside the bet slip.

Tom Light, Founder and CEO of FIRST.bet, said:
“The World Cup is the one moment when every football fan is watching, betting and hunting for somewhere to follow it all – and most sportsbooks lose that player to a dozen rival apps. UltraCup keeps the entire tournament in one place: live standings, knockout brackets, Outrights, automatic boosts and Blind Bets on matchups that haven’t even been drawn yet. Operators capture that attention from the opening whistle and hold it all the way to the final.”

At the heart of UltraCup is a dedicated World Cup hub that mirrors how fans follow the competition. Players can track group tables, move through the knockout bracket, bet on tournament-wide markets such as Champion and Top Scorer, and engage with odds that shift dynamically as the tournament unfolds.

The product also introduces Blind Bets, allowing players to bet on future World Cup matches before the final matchup is confirmed. This turns tournament progression into the betting mechanic itself, creating suspense and repeat engagement across every stage.

UltraCup also includes Auto Boost Builder, which applies automatic odds boosts to qualifying Bet Builders directly inside the bet slip. Operators can configure boosts by sport, tournament, or league, and customer segment, with instant enable or disable controls and boost tiers of any percentage desired.

UltraCup also introduces the Welcome Bonus Boost, a new feature that allows operators to create boosted odds promotions exclusively for new customers who have not yet placed a bet. The mechanic targets the critical first-bet moment, giving operators a targeted tool to convert new registrations into active players during the tournament.

While UltraCup is being launched with a clear World Cup focus, the framework is built to live beyond one tournament. FIRST will extend the same journey into major league and tournament formats across football and other sports, giving operators a reusable engagement engine for the biggest moments on the calendar.

FIRST.bet powers 75+ live operators, 100+ partners and millions of daily transactions across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, and ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026.

About FIRST.bet

FIRST – Best in Sports is a Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider powering 75+ operators globally, including leading brands among Brazil’s top 20 by GGR. Founded by former SBTech leaders, FIRST delivers a fully managed, high-performance sportsbook engineered for speed, scale and precision across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and the Swedish Gambling Authority, and is GLI-33 certified and ISO-audited. FIRST was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026, and received the ‘Individual Achievement Award’ at the EGR Awards 2026.

The post FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.