Latest News
How Finland Became an Online Gambling Powerhouse
Finland is popular for many reasons. First, it is the happiest country in the world. It has the cleanest air and the best education system. Other attractions include its reindeers, thousands of lakes, and the Santa Claus Village.
On the surface, Finland doesn’t seem ideal for an online gambling revolution. However, the country has grown into a powerhouse over time. It is bustling with opportunities for both online casino fans and operators. Here are a few reasons why the region has been so competitive.
1. Variety of Options
The number of land-based casinos in Finland is limited. While this may seem like an issue, it actually fuels the online market. All of the country’s land-based casinos are managed under a state-owned monopoly. Therefore, the number of operators is limited. It is no surprise that betting fans are turning to online casinos.
Online casino operators don’t have to deal with any harsh restrictions. Therefore, there is a much wider variety of online casinos for Finnish players. International operators love the Finnish market and are happy to invest in it.
The economy is buoyant, and the government doesn’t impose many restrictions, even for casinos that are physically based elsewhere. Many Finnish-based operators have already set up business in the country, hence giving local players more options.
2. Change In Ethos
Finns have had a few concerns over the increased growth of online casinos in their country. While casino providers make profits, many were concerned about the issue of gambling addiction. There weren’t enough regulatory measures to protect such bettors.
However, regulations are now in place to promote responsible gambling. This was always an issue, but it became more obvious during COVID shutdowns. The industry continues to grow, and there are obvious efforts to improve the relationships between betting fans and online casino providers.
3. An Adaptable Market
As the online betting audience continues easing away from desktop to mobile devices, Finland moves with it. In fact, the country has always been ahead of the game in that regard. In the last year, mobile casino playing has increased by ten percent.
Finn bettors remain adaptable in both online and offline markets. Their government is pretty relaxed about online gambling, and the people are always excited to try out new things.
Finland is generally forward-thinking, and most people support the idea that individuals are at liberty to make independent choices. The freedom to adapt as you wish has helped expand the market.
4. Technological Advancement
Finland enjoys exceptional technological advancement. In fact, it is one of the leading European countries in regard to technology. Over 5.5 residents actively engage in some form of online gambling activities.
As a result,, the industry brings in two billion Euros every year. If things keep going as they are, the sum is likely to rise. All profits from state-owned facilities go to projects that profit the society including education and environmental research.
Since players know where profits from the online betting industry are going, they are excited to try out online casinos.
5. Diverse Market
Finnish online gambling sites appeal to diverse markets. Poker games and video slots haven’t been accessible to players for a long time. However, they are now available in almost all online casinos.
Liberal regulations, an open-minded population, and a tech-savvy market have made it possible for online casinos to target wider markets. Being such a progressive country, Finland is expected to continue enjoying growth over the years.
6. Active Encouragement
The Finnish government is actively encouraging its people to explore online casinos. It is known for its famous slang ‘A Finn always wins.’ This basically means that even if you lose, the money goes to projects that benefit the society.
This has helped Finns grow a betting culture that feels like a moral obligation. You will find slot machines everywhere you go; workplaces, cafes, shops, and gas stations. This is unique in European countries.
The government’s involvement in the industry may seem like a bad thing, but it is a double-edged sword that has helped the industry grow.
7. Moving Online
The country launched its first online casino in 1996. Play Among Friends joined the industry in 2007. After licensing, the operators started offering reliable gambling and live casino options.
Being such an affluent country, Finland’s mobile technology is spreading fast. Everything is happening online, and people have embraced online shopping, online learning, and consequently, online shopping. Ownership of modern mobile technologies is increasing, and people have now shifted to mobile gaming.
8. Outside Interest
Although the state prohibits foreign suppliers from marketing within its populace, it allows access to international networks and sites. Therefore, many outsiders are interested in the Finnish online casino market.
In addition, Finland doesn’t have any laws preventing its citizens from playing at foreign sites. The country has a deep culture of personal choice, and it has made things easy for outside investors.
9. The Country’s Love for Gaming
Finland has always loved gaming. It is one of the few countries in the world that have always had a natural love for online games, particularly slots and table games. In 2019, for example, the country’s biggest regulator recorded 13 million euros in revenue.
The gambling regulatory body reported that almost 50 percent of the adult population is actively involved in gambling. This doesn’t include those that subscribe to foreign casinos.
The Job Ahead
Even though Finland is already doing exceptionally well, it still has a challenge to overcome in the future. The biggest challenge is for the country to maintain its grip on the profits and progress. It must continue to support the gambling habits of the population to stay competitive.
Online casino providers have to stay ahead of the latest trends and promotions. They have to give players better bonuses and promotions. Since domestic providers are competing with big international companies, they have to step up. If they can no longer compete, revenue will decline.
Since the government mostly controls the industry, it requires extra effort to keep innovating. There are no indications that the government is going to change this system. However, it is probably going to affect neighboring countries.
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eSports
DATA.BET Reflects on 2024 Milestones, Growth, and Achievements
With the start of the year behind, the company reflects on the key milestones.
Business Development
In 2024, the company experienced significant expansion, reflecting the increasing demand for progressive esports betting solutions. The total volume of bets processed grew by 74.2%, aided by the efficiency and dynamic scalability of the company’s trading team, alongside new collaborations from partners and clients. Otto Bonning, Head of Sales, said: “Our new partnerships with companies such as Altenar, NuBet, Airhead Ventures, and TurboStars have significantly strengthened the portfolio. These collaborations demonstrate our expanding influence and commitment to delivering exceptional solutions in the esports betting industry”. Clients also experienced an improvement in GGR, demonstrating the impact of the solutions on profitability.
The company’s user engagement rates also reflected the sizable uplift seen in 2024, with active users rising by 97.3% and average bet size increasing by 7%. Meanwhile, DATA.BET continued to broaden its presence in key markets, including Canada, Brazil, Finland, and Poland, further strengthening its global reach.
Esports Trading and Content Coverage
DATA.BET focused on strategic growth, enhancing its esports content to offer prosperous and dynamic opportunities for clients and their users.
Making focused improvements in popular markets resulted in growth. “We’ve expanded our offerings by adding 38 new markets, creating more opportunities for bettors and driving engagement,” said Thomas Donson, Head of Trading. “Our event coverage has also grown by 11%, adding over 10,000 events to ensure a more diverse and comprehensive experience. Ensuring 24/7 trading process, DATA.BET offers the highest quality market availability.”
The trust earned through high-quality product features, including the new Scoreboard and Pitch Tracker widgets, as well as the Bet Builder based on official data, all launched in 2024, has been instrumental in enhancing the customers betting experience. Scoreboards deliver detailed statistics, interactive visualizations, and comprehensive insights, helping users make informed decisions while boosting engagement through features like live betting, analysis, and availability for LoL, CS2, Valorant, and Dota 2.
Pitch Tracker, supporting our top tier titles, offers a 2D map as a visual representation with advanced tools for data analysis and in-game tracking, delivering detailed insights that enhance user engagement and decision-making. Additionally, the Bet Builder enables personalized betting by allowing users to combine multiple selections into a single wager, meeting the demand for tailored and dynamic betting experiences.
DATA.BET also broadened the scope of disciplines, adding 6 new games, such as Deadlock, Street Fighter 6, GeoGuessr, Teamfight Tactics, Hearthstone, Apex Legends, complementing client content with distinctive choices that amplified diversity and engagement.
Customer Support & Risk Management
The company provides a seamless customer experience and robust Risk Management, continuing to deliver swift and practical assistance.
With an average response time of up to 5 minutes, the dedicated team remains extremely efficient, addressing client concerns promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. Between Q2 and Q4, handled around 1,500 client requests and completed more than 150 technical tasks effectively and precisely, ensuring high-quality 24/7 support and maintaining consistent service standards.
This is due to our proprietary trading platform that enables the generation and customization of content – specifically, markets – to align precisely with each partner’s distinctive requirements while accommodating their existing settlement rules. This approach ensures a seamless transition to the solution, eliminating the need for adjustments or reconfiguration after working with a previous data provider.
DATA.BET’s Risk Management team efficiently handled over 1,700 client requests. Over time, the number of requests from long-term clients noticeably decreased. The team’s familiarity with clients’ audiences and operations reduces risks through proactive measures. By identifying patterns early, the team prevents issues, ensures smooth operations, reduces reactive interventions, and builds client trust while improving system efficiency.
In 2024, DATA.BET strengthened its presence in the esports betting industry by showcasing its solutions and engaging with audiences at premier exhibitions, immersing attendees into the vibrant world of esports. Moving into 2025, DATA.BET remains focused on leveraging this momentum to drive further success and prospects for everyone involved in esports betting.
The post DATA.BET Reflects on 2024 Milestones, Growth, and Achievements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Week 3/2025 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Relax Gaming has kick-started the year with the launch of Kraken’s Cove, its latest cluster pays game that can see players loot up to 10,000x their stake. At the core of the gameplay is Ship Wild, a special symbol that is present on every spin that moves closer to the central hot spot with each winning spin. Upon reaching the hot spot, it expands into a 2×2 to 5×5 Wild, with a multiplier that increases every time it contributes to a cluster win.
GAMOMAT is gearing up to release the second instalment of The Book Beyond: The Quest for the Cipher Stone on Thursday 23rd January 2025. The game presents a classic 5×3 layout with 10 paylines and the possibility of two exciting Free Game levels. A shimmering gold-leafed book represents both the Scatter and Wild. An intriguing twist in the game involves the special Book Feature, where instead of ‘stamping’, the reels move up and down to uncover full stacks of bonus symbols.
ICONIC21’s just launched live slot portfolio now stands at seven titles as the provider continues to enhance its market leading offering, laying the foundation for its place at the front of a vertical set for long-term growth andsuccess. The new releases — Dao Riches, Fiesta Wilds and Vitamin Joy 25 — all take the classic slot format, which is highly sought-after by players in both real money gaming and sweepstakes markets.
Karen’s back, and she’s as greedy as ever. Nolimit City is diving headfirst into the post-apocalyptic chaos once again with xWays Hoarder 2—a sequel to the wildly popular xWays Hoarder xSplit. This game follows in the footsteps of sequels like San Quentin 2, Punk Rocker 2, and Fire in the Hole 2, proving once more that the end of the world is just the beginning when it comes to our games. When survival is the name of the game, desperation leads to chaos. Betrayal, looting, and backstabbing are all fair play in this wasteland—but it’s all worth it for that sweet, sweet loot.
Belatra Games has crafted an intriguing alchemical adventure slot titled Make it Gold. The first release of 2025 is a captivating and visually stunning slot that welcomes players into the mysterious world of alchemy on a quest for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. Set within an alchemist’s laboratory, the game’s key feature is the cascading reels where winning combinations vanish, allowing new symbols to drop and fill the spaces.
Playson, the renowned digital entertainment supplier, guides players on an enchanted adventure in 3 Luxor Pots: Hold and Win, with the stylish new release offering bountiful opportunities to win via golden Bonus symbols, Scarab coins and the iconic Hold and Win bonus game.
Feel the rhythm of the streets in Spin City Beats, the latest slot from in-demand provider Silverback Gaming. This is a highly volatile game where players come across infamous characters including a Rapper, DJ and Skater. These characters act as Expanding Wilds and have different triggers and rewards. When a single Rapper Wild appears on the board and the Boombox symbol is present, the Rapper Wild Expands to cover reel two.
Prepare to embark on an epic battle as Play’n GO releases Tower Quest Legacy, the much-anticipated sequel to Tower Quest. This 5×3 slot with 20 paylines invites players into a mystical realm where glowing flasks, powerful Wilds, and a towering dark fortress dominate the reels. With captivating mechanics and the chance to take on the Wizard in a thrilling card-based Bonus Battle, Tower Quest Legacy delivers an unforgettable fantasy experience.
Push Gaming has leveraged its past successes to drive the creation of its latest feature-rich cluster pays slot, Dragon Hopper. Boldly combining the best elements of the hit game Fire Hopper, with a sprinkling of flavour from some of its other fan favourite slots such as Retro Tapes, Dragon Hopper provides an exhilarating journey through a far-eastern lantern festival.
Pack your safe cracking tools and get ready to raid a maximum-security vault for precious gems worth up to 3,000x the bet in Ruby Robbery – the exciting heist-themed slot from Twin Win Games that marks the studio’s third release via the SwinttStudios programme. A five-reel, 50-payline title with a medium level of volatility, Ruby Robbery takes place in a heavily fortified strongroom and features all manner of treasures among its high-value symbols, with golden crowns, Fabergé eggs and piles of cash all accounting for the base game’s biggest prizes.
Booming Games are lighting up the world of online casinos once again, turning up the heat with the January launch of the brand new Wild Wings of Phoenix DELUXE. Booming’s Wild Wings of Phoenix slot is legendary in its own right, but this sizzling sequel rises from the flames to deliver something truly iconic. This 5×3 reel, 20-payline game reaches new heights, following the Aztec theme of its popular predecessor – while delivering more features than ever before.
ELA Games is proud to announce the release of Cash of Egypt, a new mythical slot game that combines high-quality aesthetics with exciting gameplay mechanics. Players can now demo the game on ELA Games’ website to explore all the game has to offer. The 5×4 slot includes 1024 paylines, ensuring the player can enjoy frequent action both during the base game and the bonus feature.
The post Week 3/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Interviews
Fast Track CEO Shares Honest Reflections in New Interview: Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Fast Track, the leading SaaS technology company and CRM provider in the iGaming industry, has unveiled the second instalment of its Inside Out video series.
Titled “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” the interview features CEO and Co-founder Simon Lidzén in a candid, behind-the-scenes discussion about the company’s growth, challenges, and vision for the future.
In the 30-minute video, Simon reflects on Fast Track’s nearly ten-year journey: “Success to me is about setting goals and achieving them. This year has been intense, but incredibly rewarding. From scaling Fast Track to launching groundbreaking products like Rewards, we’re just getting started.”
The conversation explores the launch of Rewards, Fast Track’s promotional ecosystem that integrates CRM with gamification to deliver engaging and personalised player experiences. Simon also discusses the company’s rapid global expansion and the challenges of scaling leadership within a fast-growing organisation. Looking ahead to 2025, he highlights Fast Track’s focus on leveraging AI to redefine CRM and customer engagement.
Simon’s reflections also touch on the company’s culture: “Fast Track is built on relentless innovation and a team that thrives on solving challenges. Seeing how much we’ve grown and how far we’ve come makes this journey so exciting.”
For those unfamiliar with Fast Track, the company is a high-growth SaaS leader, known for pioneering the use of AI to deliver personalised experiences to customers. Its software empowers companies to automate marketing and operational workflows, enabling teams to focus on strategy and innovation. Fast Track is reshaping CRM for iGaming, setting a new standard for customer engagement.
Watch the interview here: https://2ly.link/23JyZ
The post Fast Track CEO Shares Honest Reflections in New Interview: Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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