Latest News
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.
Powered by WPeMatico
Fiona Hickey
Hub88 Enters into Partnership with Games Inc
Hub88 has further strengthened its aggregation platform through a partnership with Games Inc, delivering the studio’s portfolio, shaped by more than a decade of close collaboration with operators, to its global network.
The deal introduces Games Inc’s range of more than 70 tried and tested titles to Hub88’s partners, including slots and table games, granting access to premium content developed with a focus on performance, engagement and player-first design.
Founded in 2012, Games Inc began as a bespoke slot developer for some of the world’s biggest operators, before transitioning into a fully independent global content provider.
For Hub88’s partners, Games Inc’s rich knowledge translates into a line-up designed with entertainment and high performance in mind. Each release seamlessly combines engaging mechanics, balanced maths, captivating graphics and immersive audiovisual effects for the ultimate experience.
The agreement further strengthens Hub88’s reputation for choosing partners with intriguing content and robust technology that drives success.
Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Games Inc brings a level of experience and deep operator understanding that really stands out to us. They have spent years building custom games meticulously, and this is reflected in how their portfolio performs. Their content is shaped by real-world insight and data, and this will only bring further benefits to our operator network.”
Fiona Hickey, Managing Director at Games Inc, said: “Hub88 is a key partner for us, with their values, way of working and enduring reputation unlocking access to more brands worldwide. Their platform is technically excellent and significantly boosts our reach. We are confident that our style and creative approach will resonate with their partners across multiple global markets.”
The post Hub88 Enters into Partnership with Games Inc appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil
The IBJR stresses that combating the illegal market is crucial for Desenrola 2.0
The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) warns that the effectiveness of financial protection measures in Desenrola 2.0 fundamentally depends on a rigorous fight against the illegal betting market.
It is also worth emphasizing that in 2025, bets placed on licensed platforms accounted for the equivalent of only 0.46% of household consumption in the country, an extremely small share within the Brazilian budget, according to data from a study by LCA Consultoria.
This reinforces that the main factor of indebtedness in the Brazilian budget continues to be the high cost of credit.
The entity also emphasizes that restrictions on access to the regulated sector may encourage users to migrate to clandestine platforms, which already move around R$ 40 billion per year and operate without any oversight or consumer protection mechanisms.
Combating the illegal market is the most urgent step to prevent unlicensed operators—often associated with organized crime—from exploiting periods of restriction to attract vulnerable audiences.
This concern is heightened by the proximity of the World Cup, a period of natural increase in the volume of sports betting, and by the potential loss of R$ 10.8 billion in revenue for the country if consumption shifts to the underground market.
The IBJR reinforces that the real protection of citizens and the integrity of Desenrola 2.0 depend on coordinated action between the government and the private sector.
The organization advocates for public policies that combine financial education, strengthening responsible gambling, and a strategic offensive against clandestine websites, ensuring that entertainment occurs exclusively within a safe, transparent, and properly monitored ecosystem.
The post The IBJR stresses that combating the illegal market is crucial for Desenrola 2.0 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
ALT Sports Data
ALT Sports Data Announces a New Partnership with Caesars Entertainment
ALT Sports Data, a global leader in engagement solutions and official data for emerging sports, has announced a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The partnership powers a new, next-generation Formula 1 betting product for Caesars’ sports betting platforms, delivering one of the most advanced wagering experiences ever offered on motorsports across Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill digital and retail platforms.
Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill will leverage ALT Sports Data’s proprietary Formula 1 models, pricing, and real-time data infrastructure to offer a comprehensive and differentiated suite of betting markets. Built on sub-second latency data and hundreds of inputs per car, the platform enables dynamic pricing and continuous market recalibration throughout Formula 1 race weekends.
The product introduces a new category of Formula 1 betting, combining pre-race, in-race, and micro-market opportunities into a single, integrated experience. This includes live race micro markets, predictive driver performance modeling, and large-scale race simulations that generate thousands of possible race outcomes per event, allowing for deeper and more accurate pricing across every lap.
“Formula 1 is one of the most complex and data-rich environments in global sport, and that complexity creates an opportunity to completely redefine the betting experience. Our platform is designed to unlock that potential at scale, and partnering with Caesars allows us to bring a truly differentiated, always-on product to market that reflects the speed, strategy, and unpredictability of Formula 1,” said Joe Dunnigan, CEO and Founder of ALT Sports Data.
“Formula 1 continues to captivate fans with its intensity, strategy, and constant innovation. By integrating ALT Sports Data’s advanced modeling and real-time official data, we’re able to elevate our Formula 1 offering and give customers a more dynamic way to experience every moment of the race weekend,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.
In addition to core markets such as race winner and podium finishes, Caesars and William Hill will offer an expanded set of in-play and micro markets, including lap-by-lap driver matchups, fastest segment performance, pit stop outcomes, overtakes, and position-based milestones. These markets are designed to evolve in real time, enabling a true race-within-a-race experience for bettors.
As the Official and Exclusive Betting Data Supplier of Formula 1, ALT Sports Data is building the foundational infrastructure to support the sport’s growing focus on regulated sports betting and fan engagement. With Formula 1 increasing its investment in official betting partnerships and data-driven engagement, the expansion of sophisticated betting products represents a key strategic initiative for the league and its global ecosystem.
The agreement further establishes ALT Sports Data as a key infrastructure partner for sportsbooks and leagues seeking to unlock the next phase of growth in global sports betting through official data, advanced modeling, and real-time fan engagement.
The post ALT Sports Data Announces a New Partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
Africa5 days agoSpringbok Casino Presents “Wild Galaxy Month” with 25 Free Spins on Prosperity Pots
-
Baltics5 days agoKanggiten: From B2C Insight to B2B Performance in iGaming
-
Asia5 days agoNOVOMATIC to Debut New Linked Progressive Innovations and Expanded Portfolio at G2E Asia 2026
-
affiliate marketing5 days agoCasinoCanada partners with FortuneJack to expand crypto casino coverage
-
Alex Fonseca5 days agoSuperbet expands football presence with naming rights deal at Bahia-based club
-
Canada5 days agoCasinoCanada announces partnership with FortuneJack casino
-
Central Europe4 days agoTipico Casino Enters into Partnership with Holstein Kiel
-
bet3654 days agoEvoplay adds bet365 to its Brazil operator lineup



