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Finnish Minister Says State Should Treat Gambling Monopoly Revenues like Alcohol Profits

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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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2026 FIFA World Cup

Playradar ships four football-themed casino games ahead of 2026 World Cup

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Sportradar’s iGaming brand leads with bracket-style World Football x2026, plus updates to Virtual Football and Lucky 6.

Playradar, Sportradar’s iGaming brand, has released four football-themed titles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11. The drop includes two original games and two updated versions of existing products.

The releases are World Football x2026, Virtual Football World Championship 2026, Football Plinko Pro, and Lucky 6: Football edition. Playradar said the games are designed to target different player segments and to connect sports bettors and casino players through content that links both verticals.

The headline launch, World Football x2026, is a bracket-based game using Mines-style mechanics. Players pick outcomes from the Round of 16 and progress through each round to the final; one incorrect prediction ends the game, while a cash-out option is available.

The other launches include Football Plinko Pro, which adapts the plinko format to a football theme; Virtual Football World Championship 2026, which Playradar said runs a 32-team, 64-match World Cup structure with pre-match and in-play markets such as over/under goals and goalscorer; and Lucky 6: Football Edition, a bingo-style title using balls with flags from participating nations.

Edo Haitin, EVP of iGaming said: “The scale of the 2026 World Cup is unprecedented, with the sheer volume of fans entering markets worldwide creating huge demand for football-themed content, and the operators best placed to succeed are those with games that meet every need. These four titles have each been designed with that in mind. The World Cup attracts a huge spectrum of customers, and when taken together, this product stack provides operators with the tools needed to keep them engaged throughout the tournament.”

The post Playradar ships four football-themed casino games ahead of 2026 World Cup appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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1spin4win

1spin4win welcomes the football season with a brand-new release, Lucky Goal

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1spin4win, an established classic online slot provider, presents Lucky Goal, a sports-themed game that captures the atmosphere of a major football competition.

The latest release transports players to the night of the big final. In Lucky Goal, the stakes are higher than ever — the outcome of the game will decide who takes the 1spin4win Cup home. Taking the role of the team’s star striker, players enter the 4×4 pitch to lead the attack and chase winning combinations worth up to x1500 of the original bet.

When the match starts heading towards a draw, Coins can turn the score around. Once three or more of them appear on the reels in one spin, their values combine to boost the payout and bring the team one step closer to victory.

The storytelling behind Lucky Goal is supported by a vibrant, themed visual design. The game is set against the backdrop of a crowded, neon-lit football stadium, while the 4×4 layout features symbols closely associated with the sport, including a football, goalkeeper gloves, a referee’s whistle, and the 1spin4win Cup itself. The music further enhances the atmosphere, resembling iconic football anthems.

In addition to its rich visuals and engaging gameplay, the new release delivers fast load times and uninterrupted performance across all devices, even on weaker internet connections. For the convenience of a broad international audience, Lucky Goal also supports multiple fiat and cryptocurrencies.

The focus on accessible, high-performing content is part of 1spin4win’s broader approach to global growth. Today, the provider continues to expand its network of over 1,000 partners, working with renowned iGaming brands such as STAKE.MX, 1win, LevelUP, BitStarz, gg.bet, WinSpirit, mBit, Pin-Up, 1xBet, PlayAmo, and others.

Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win, “For us, Lucky Goal is an exciting project, as it marks our first sports-inspired release. We wanted to keep the slot true to 1spin4win’s signature style, with straightforward gameplay and a strong math model, while bringing more life to the theme through animation and sound effects. We’re happy to join the football season with a release that helps players immerse themselves in the high-spirited atmosphere of a major sports event.”

About 1spin4win

1spin4win is an established game provider founded in May 2021 by ambitious developers with over 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since its inception, the company has expanded its portfolio to include over 200 classic online slots, all characterized by quality mathematics, transparent mechanics, and well-balanced gameplay — key factors that drive strong player retention. The studio aims to release an average of four new games each month in 2026 and offers effective promotional tools for casino operators to help them enhance player loyalty.

The post 1spin4win welcomes the football season with a brand-new release, Lucky Goal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Altenar

Altenar Named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year at SBC Americas Awards 2026

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Leading sportsbook platform Altenar has been named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Americas Awards 2026, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The award recognises Altenar’s continued commitment to delivering high-performance sportsbook technology that enables operators to grow across the diverse and rapidly evolving regulated markets of the Americas.

Bringing together stakeholders from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, the SBC Americas Awards celebrate excellence across the betting and gaming industry, recognising operators and suppliers that are driving innovation and raising industry standards throughout the region.

The latest recognition reinforces Altenar’s position as one of the industry’s leading sportsbook providers, trusted by operators across multiple regulated jurisdictions for its flexible, scalable and data-driven solutions.

The award comes during a period of significant momentum for the company in the Americas.

Earlier this week, Altenar announced that it had received approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), enabling the company to provide sportsbook solutions in Alberta ahead of the launch of the province’s regulated online gaming market.

Charlie Williams Commercial Director at Altenar, said:

“Winning ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ is a tremendous achievement for our entire team. The Americas have become one of the most dynamic and strategically important regions for our business, with opportunities emerging across both established and newly-regulated markets.

“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it reflects the work we are doing across the entire region. From North America to Latin America, operators are looking for technology partners that can provide flexibility, reliability and local expertise. Our focus remains on helping them succeed with sportsbook solutions that are tailored to their specific commercial and regulatory requirements”.

Through its award-winning platform and continued investment across the region, Altenar is helping operators unlock sustainable growth and capitalise on the significant opportunities emerging throughout the Americas.

The post Altenar Named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year at SBC Americas Awards 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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