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Immense Group appoints Joonas Karhu as Managing Director, Finland

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Immense Group has named Joonas Karhu as Managing Director, Finland, strengthening its strategic focus on the Nordic region. Based in Helsinki, Karhu will oversee local operations, drive partnership development, enhance media engagement, and support long-term market positioning for the group’s casino and betting brands.

The appointment underscores Immense Group’s commitment to Nordic markets, bolstering regional leadership to fuel sustainable growth and deeper collaborations. Over the past six months, the group has consolidated its multi-brand structure while reinforcing the presence of key brands, including DBETMr VegasVideoslotsKungaslottet and Mega Riches, across regulated European markets.

Karhu brings over 15 years of iGaming experience spanning affiliate, operator, and commercial leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Head of Casino at North Star, overseeing casino operations and integrating Bojoko into the wider organization. Karhu co-founded Bojoko in 2017, initially as Chief Business Officer and later CEO, guiding its strategic growth across regulated markets.

Having previously served as Country Manager for Finland (2016–2017), Karhu possesses deep knowledge of Immense Group’s brands, operations, and culture, providing continuity as the company expands its Nordic footprint.

In his new role, Karhu will prepare the company for Finland’s upcoming licensing framework while steering long-term strategic planning.

Karhu commented: “I’m pleased to be returning to Immense Group at an important point in its development. The group has built a strong portfolio of brands and a clear position in regulated markets. Finland offers meaningful long-term potential, and my focus will be on building strong partnerships, strengthening our local presence and supporting sustainable growth. I look forward to reconnecting with colleagues and engaging with partners across the industry.”

The post Immense Group appoints Joonas Karhu as Managing Director, Finland appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Aino Lahti

Kasinohai Audit: Most Slots Could Be Affected by Finland’s Draft Gambling Rules

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With the public consultation period closing on 5 August 2026, international operators eyeing Finland’s newly regulated gambling market face strict product limitations, including a total ban on autoplay and a €10 slot cap for players under 25.

According to a new regulatory analysis released by Kasinohai, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior’s draft legislation (Project SM053:00/2022) introduces significant technical and commercial challenges. While players aged 25 and over will see stakes capped at €20 per spin, the tiered age limit requires operators to implement complex backend adjustments. This includes integrating dynamic KYC and age-verification systems capable of enforcing stake-limiting logic per demographic, adding substantial compliance costs.

92% of Tested Slots Use Autoplay as Standard

In the first audit, Kasinohai researcher Lilli Partanen tested 49 of the site’s most reviewed slot titles. Of those, 45 included autoplay as a built-in feature, representing 91.84% of the sample. The draft legislation proposes a full ban on autoplay, requiring players to initiate every round manually and preventing a new spin from starting before the previous one has fully concluded.

While the sample size is limited, the results point to a broader pattern. Autoplay is not a niche function but a near-standard element in contemporary slot design, meaning the proposed restriction would affect a significant share of games available to Finnish players.

“Of the 49 slot games tested, 45 include autoplay, meaning the feature appears in approximately 91.84% of the games reviewed, even though the sample is relatively small,” said Helena Rautio, iGaming journalist at Kasinohai.

398 Live Casinos Depend on a Mechanic the Draft Could Outlaw

A second audit, conducted by researchers Mimmi Malmström and Laura Korhonen, focused on 398 live casino platforms where game show titles such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live are central to the offering. The review found that all examined platforms support automatic continuation of bets between rounds, allowing players to remain in the game without repeated manual input.

If these game show formats were to be classified as slots under the Finnish framework, that functionality could be disrupted. Each round would require active player input, effectively removing the continuous betting flow that defines the format.

“The draft regulations do not mention game show products explicitly, and there is no clear definition for them. This leaves room for interpretation as to which limits and rules would apply,” said Aino Lahti, content producer at Kasinohai.

Other Key Changes in the Draft

Taken together, the two audits highlight a broader structural challenge. Features that have become standard across both slots and live casino environments may require substantial redesign if the draft is implemented in its current form. This applies regardless of operator size or licensing status.

The proposed rules also introduce stake limits tied to player age, with a general cap of €20 per spin and a stricter €10 limit for players under 25. Additional measures include a minimum round duration of 2.5 seconds and mandatory reality checks every 15 minutes, reinforcing the draft’s focus on player protection.

The post Kasinohai Audit: Most Slots Could Be Affected by Finland’s Draft Gambling Rules appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Finland Sets Casino Gambling Risk Limits at 2% of Income, 4 Days, 2 Game Types

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Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has launched a new set of gambling risk limits built around a single rule: no more than 2% of monthly net income, 4 gambling days per month and 2 recurring game types. Bonusetu.com examines the new framework and why its real-world success depends on the bank ID identification already standard in the country’s registration-free casinos.

The “2-4-2” Rule and the Player’s Credit Line

THL packaged the new limits as a player’s credit line (pelaajan luottorivi), a memorable “2-4-2” mnemonic released alongside a self-assessment gambling test (rahapelitesti) that lets a player gauge their own relationship with gambling. The thresholds are deliberately simple: keep monthly spend under 2% of net income, gamble on no more than 4 days a month, and stick to no more than 2 recurring game types. The guidance lands against a backdrop where 70% of Finns reported gambling in the past 12 months.

The numbers are not arbitrary. The framework adapts Canada’s Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines, reworked for Finnish conditions between 2022 and 2024. Where Canada anchors its limit to 1% of gross household income, THL chose 2% of net personal income to better match how Finnish households actually think about money.

According to the THL’s assessment, the introduction of the licensing system will shift the focus of the gambling system from preventing and reducing harms to emphasising gambling revenue; for this reason, they felt it was best to launch the 2-4-2 rule right now.

“A risk limit only works if the casino knows exactly who is sitting behind the screen. THL hands players the 2-4-2 rule, but the rule has no teeth unless the operator can verify identity, age, and play history in real time. Bank ID does that at the door. Registration-free does not mean anonymous, it means the player is identified before the first euro is staked, not after,” said Tommi Korhonen, acting CEO of Bonusetu.com.

Why a Limit Needs to Know the Player

A spending cap is only as strong as a casino’s ability to recognise who is actually playing. That recognition runs on strong identification (vahva tunnistautuminen) through bank credentials, the technology that lets a player log in with Nordea, OP or S-Pankki details instead of filling out a signup form. The “no registration” label describes the missing form, not a missing identity check.

Verified age: Bank ID confirms a player is over 18 before the first spin, closing a gap that form-based signups leave open to minors.

Recognised identity: One verified identity per player turns play-history limits like 2-4-2 into something a system can enforce, not just a slogan a player is asked to remember.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Helsinki, Bonusetu.com is a leading Finnish comparison platform for online casinos.

The post Finland Sets Casino Gambling Risk Limits at 2% of Income, 4 Days, 2 Game Types appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Veikkaus rolls out OpenBet’s Neccton responsible gambling platform ahead of 2027 reform

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Veikkaus will deploy the latest version of OpenBet’s Neccton AI-enhanced responsible gambling platform across its digital and retail channels, the companies said on 16 June 2026. The rollout comes as Finland’s newly approved Gambling Act increases operator obligations to spot and address risky gambling behaviour early, including active intervention where risk indicators emerge.

OpenBet said the Neccton platform is designed to identify potentially risky gambling behaviour in real time, generate automated alerts, and support tailored player interventions. The system summarises behavioural data, risk markers and historical context in plain language, and provides AI-assisted explanations intended to support compliance teams while maintaining human oversight.

Susanna Saikkonen, Vice President for Sustainability at Veikkaus, said: “Veikkaus’ individual gambling safety net model is based on identifying risky gambling as early as possible and offering players both support and concrete limitations. The Neccton platform provides us with an ISO-certified, extensively security tested and scientifically validated tool that strengthens our ability to identify risk and support our customers in gambling responsibly.”

Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director of Neccton at OpenBet, said: “In today’s regulatory environment, operators must demonstrate how they actively prevent gambling-related harm. The latest version of the Neccton platform enables real-time, data-driven intervention and measurable duty of care. We are proud to expand our partnership with Veikkaus to further strengthen its responsible gambling framework.”

The Neccton deployment extends Veikkaus’ existing relationship with OpenBet. OpenBet has been powering Veikkaus’ next-generation sportsbook platform and providing Managed Trading Services across digital and retail channels since May 2025, according to the companies. Veikkaus is preparing for Finland’s expected market liberalisation in 2027.

The post Veikkaus rolls out OpenBet’s Neccton responsible gambling platform ahead of 2027 reform appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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