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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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DragoBet Launches Multi-Regional Casino and Sportsbook Platform
DragoBet has launched its online casino and sportsbook as a service designed for use across multiple markets. The platform adjusts language, currency, and payment settings by region, while keeping casino play and sports betting available through a single account.
Players complete one registration and can use the platform on desktop and mobile devices, with the same account structure and balance maintained across all access points.
Casino and Sportsbook Offering
Drago Bet launches with a casino catalogue exceeding 10,000 titles, covering a broad range of play styles. The selection includes slot games, table formats, live dealer tables, jackpots, crash titles and other feature-based releases. Games are supplied by more than 100 established software providers, combining well-known titles with newer releases within the same library.
DragoBet sportsbook is built into the same environment as the casino and covers a mix of international competitions and locally followed events. Football, basketball, tennis and cricket make up the main focus, while a range of other sports is also included. Betting is available both ahead of kick-off and during live matches, with prices updating continuously as games unfold.
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A single account and wallet connect both casino and sportsbook activity. A single account and wallet connect casino and sportsbook play, with one DragoBet login used to access all products under the same balance.
DragoBet casino supports a range of commonly used payment options, depending on market and currency. These typically include bank transfers, debit and credit cards, alternative card solutions, digital wallets such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Revolut and N26, as well as cryptocurrency payments. The exact methods available are displayed within the platform.
Deposits are processed online, while withdrawals are handled following account verification in line with standard internal procedures.
Security and Compliance
The platform operates under an established offshore gaming framework. Standard operational controls are applied, including encrypted data transmission and transaction monitoring.
Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures form part of the withdrawal process. These measures are applied to support account security and payment integrity.
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The casino offers a structured DragoBet bonus system for new and returning players. The welcome package is delivered across multiple initial deposits, with defined wagering conditions. Additional promotions, reload offers and cashback campaigns are available on an ongoing basis.
A loyalty system, Dragon Throne Club, is integrated into the platform. The program is structured across multiple levels and provides cashback, rakeback and account-based rewards tied to continued play.
The post DragoBet Launches Multi-Regional Casino and Sportsbook Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
Cyprus Betting Authority Deploys 150 Secret Agents to Conduct Raids on Betting Agencies
The Cyprus NBA is significantly ramping up its regulatory oversight for 2026. Raids on betting agencies are being carried out by “undercover” agents as part of stepped-up checks by the NBA to ensure compliance with the law.
The NBA has procured inspection services from the private sector, deploying 150 undercover agents who pose as customers and enter betting premises unannounced.
While on site, the agents monitor staff conduct, check whether illegal bets are being placed and verify that minors are not present.
Alongside these surprise visits, NBA officers also carry out on-site inspections and monitor betting websites used by hundreds of players, while inspections are also conducted to identify potential money-laundering activity.
The issues related to the violations of rules were raised during a meeting of the House Finance Committee, where an NBA representative said the Authority imposed fines totalling €46,000 last year.
Of that amount, €26,000 related to breaches linked to the lack of required licences, with the remainder stemming from the presence of minors on premises and other violations of the legislation.
At the same time, data submitted to parliament showed that bets worth €1.3 billion were placed last year, with players receiving €1.17bn in winnings.
Against that backdrop, and following an increase in the betting tax, state revenue from betting rose to €6 million, up from €3.2m a year earlier.
During the discussion, it was also noted that a draft bill has been pending at the Ministry of Finance for around a year.
The bill provides for new products and services, as well as enhanced safeguards for responsible gaming and the protection of minors.
A representative of the ministry clarified that there are no plans to introduce online casino games.
Expected revenue from betting activity is projected at €71.85m this year, an increase of 28.03 per cent, or €15.73m, compared with 2025.
Revenue is forecast to rise further to €75.27m in 2027 and €78.59m in 2028.
Breaking down the figures, betting tax is expected to generate €53m, licence fees €8.2m and betting activity contributions €10m.
Class A and Class B licence holders pay tax at a rate of 10 per cent on net betting earnings, with Class A covering land-based betting and Class B online betting.
In addition, €32m relates to betting tax on Opap’s Cyprus’ gross profits under the new contract, while licences for Class A and B operators, authorised representatives and premises are expected to bring in €2.8m.
A further €5m concerns Opap’s Cyprus’ licence fee and €0.4m its supervision contribution, also under the revised agreement.
The post Cyprus Betting Authority Deploys 150 Secret Agents to Conduct Raids on Betting Agencies appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Amusnet Marks 10 Years with Landmark Award Recognition at ICE Gaming
Amusnet has been honoured with the prestigious Landmark Award, presented during a special ceremony at ICE Gaming. The award, recognising milestone achievements and standout contributions across the global gaming sector, was received on behalf of the company by Amusnet CEO Ivo Georgiev, as Amusnet celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
The recognition highlights a decade of progress and impact, celebrating Amusnet’s achievements in driving growth, expanding its global footprint, and consistently delivering high-performing gaming content and solutions. It also reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and building long-term value through strong partnerships across regulated markets.
Commenting on the award, Ivo Georgiev said: “This award reflects ten years of teamwork, trust, and a clear vision. I accept it on behalf of our teams and partners, and we’re proud to continue building what comes next together.”
Receiving the award at ICE Gaming underscores Amusnet’s position as a trusted and forward-looking industry leader and marks an important milestone as the company looks ahead to its next decade of growth.
The post Amusnet Marks 10 Years with Landmark Award Recognition at ICE Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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