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Finnish Minister Says State Should Treat Gambling Monopoly Revenues like Alcohol Profits
Antti Kurvinen, Finland’s minister of science and culture, has proposed that revenues from the state-owned gambling monopoly, Veikkaus, be transferred to the state budget.
On Saturday Kurvinen said that the betting agency’s income is declining, and without a change so will the income of charities and other groups that benefit from its profits. Veikkaus revenues are distributed to organisations in the fields of culture, sports, science, and youth work as well as social welfare and health.
Kurvinen proposed making the change from the beginning of 2024.
“My view is that from the beginning of 2024, Veikkaus’ income should be transferred to the state budget in the same way as, for example, Alko transfers its own dividends and income to the state budget, from which they are used for good purposes,” Kurvinen said.
Kurvinen said that he has reached the same position on the matter as a working group chaired by former Bank of Finland Governor Erkki Liikanen, which last spring proposed a comprehensive reform to divert gambling revenues to general government revenue and transfer current beneficiaries to the budget framework procedure.
The need for reform is due to Veikkaus’ declining income. This is due to a drop in slot machine revenues because of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as measures taken to tackle gambling addiction.
“Without a clear change and reform, we will find ourselves in a situation where the income of Veikkaus’ beneficiaries is constantly falling. This is about the income of Finnish science, culture, youth organisations and especially sports and exercise,” Kurvinen said.
According to Kurvinen, the distribution of Veikkaus revenues through the budget would bring predictability to cash flows, which is essential for beneficiaries.
“Recent years have shown that we are in a strange situation here: the success of a Finnish gaming company determines what kind of resources there are, for example, for top Finnish sports and youth sports or for high-level Finnish research. This creates a strange, uncertain situation,” Kurvinen said.
The problem with the new way of distributing Veikkaus, revenues has been that it would make the funding of beneficiaries dependent on political decision-making.
Kurvinen does not deny that the change would increase the role of political decision-making, but said he considers that a lesser evil than the uncertainty and funding cuts that lie ahead if no reforms are made.
“In the long run, however, it would be clearer and less problematic to make political value decisions than for the success of Veikkaus’ business to be the determining factor in how many opportunities there are for young researchers in Finland or how much art is funded in Finland,” Kurvinen said.
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Spinmatic has announced Plata o Plomo Hold&Win, a new iteration of its Plata o Plomo slot built around a revised Hold&Win bonus feature.
The company said it has changed how bonus-stage winnings are determined compared with the original game’s “random rewarding system.” In the updated version, Spinmatic said “guesswork” has been removed and that “every player now operates within a clearly defined multiplier framework.”
Spinmatic is also adding what it calls a “Super Win” incentive to the bonus journey. The company said that by reaching the end of the 3rd stage, “players are now guaranteed a significant payout.”
Mechanically, Spinmatic said the title follows its earlier Hold&Win integration in Frank Pantera, but scales the feature with a larger coin respin grid. While Frank Pantera used a 3×5 grid, Plata o Plomo Hold&Win uses an expanded 4×5 grid (20 slots), which Spinmatic said is designed to increase coin-landing opportunities and align the bonus feature visually with the base game reel structure.
Spinmatic did not disclose launch markets, operator partners, certification status, RTP/volatility data, or performance metrics for the updated title.
The post Spinmatic updates Plata o Plomo with Hold&Win bonus overhaul appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
bet365, a leading global online sportsbook and casino, announced its official launch in Michigan, marking its entry into its 17th U.S. state and continuing its rapid North American expansion. The launch also comes as bet365 is named as an Official Sports Betting Partner of the Detroit Tigers.
Michigan customers will have access to bet365’s globally recognized platform, featuring competitive odds, early lines, and industry-leading in-play betting and its signature Early Payout offer, a fan-favorite feature that allows customers to receive winnings early when their team takes a decisive lead. The platform also includes a fully integrated casino experience, with features such as the free daily Prize Matcher, which allows customers to play daily for prizes worth up to $5000 weekly.
To celebrate the launch, bet365 is offering new customers a “Bet $10, Get $365” promotion for their sportsbook and a “get 1000 free spins and up to $1000 deposit match” for casino, giving players immediate value and a compelling reason to try the platform.
“We’re excited to bring bet365 to Michigan and introduce a better way to bet. This is a mature market with knowledgeable fans, and we’re confident our product stands apart. Features like our Early Payout offer, combined with our in-play experience and integrated casino, give players more ways to engage and more reasons to choose bet365,” said Trip Stoddard, Head of Business Development at bet365.
As part of its commitment to the state, bet365 is also focused on embedding itself within Michigan’s iconic sports and entertainment landscape. The company announced its partnerships with the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and 313 Presents as part of its launch and goal of creating meaningful connections with fans and enhancing how they engage with their favorite experiences. As part of the partnership, bet365 will be integrated throughout Comerica Park via a range of high-visibility placements, appear during game broadcasts through virtual signage, activate across Tigers radio and digital channels, and alongside fan-focused initiatives such as ticketing and merchandise programs throughout the season. In addition, bet365 will serve as a presenting partner of the Detroit SportsNet’s Tigers coverage.
The Michigan launch also reflects bet365’s broader U.S. strategy to expand into all legal markets and establish itself as a true national competitor. By bringing a refined product built on learnings from prior state launches, bet365 is positioned to compete with established operators while offering a differentiated experience.
As part of its launch, bet365 will continue to roll out its “Winning Is Everything” brand campaign across Michigan, reinforcing its commitment to players who are serious about their play and expect more from their sportsbook. Sports fans across Michigan will be able to access a full range of betting options across major leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more.
The post bet365 Launches in Michigan, Bringing its Global Betting Experience to a Competitive Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Zitro Digital, the online arm of global gaming supplier Zitro, continues to accelerate its expansion across Latin America with the launch of a new partnership with Solbet, one of Paraguay’s leading online operators. The deal represents a significant step in Zitro Digital’s drive to bring its content to new audiences throughout the region.
Solbet players now have access to Zitro Digital’s full portfolio — an extensive range of slots and Video Bingo titles built on the company’s land-based success, complemented by exclusive digital-first content. With this agreement, Zitro Digital adds another strong operator partnership to its growing operator base, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality, trusted content to players in regulated markets worldwide.
“For Solbet, it is essential to continue expanding our gaming portfolio with content from globally recognized providers such as Zitro Digital. This partnership allows us to offer our players a high-quality gaming experience, aligned with market trends and their preferences,” said Rodrigo Iturralde, CEO of Solbet Paraguay.
“Partnering with an established operator like Solbet is a fantastic way to introduce our portfolio to players in what is a key market for us. We are committed to supporting our partners with content that players already know and trust, and we look forward to seeing our titles perform on Solbet’s platform,” said José Javier Martí, COO at Zitro Digital.
The post Zitro Digital Enters into a New Partnership with Solbet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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