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Change in Veikkaus Executive Team: Nummikoski to Join Sarekoski’s Executive Office
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Veikkaus Deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoski, who has been responsible for public affairs, will step down from Veikkaus’ Executive Team at the beginning of January 2026.
At the turn of the year, he will move to project duties in CEO Olli Sarekoski’s executive office. For the jobtime being, Veikkaus will not appoint a new Deputy CEO.
“I would like to thank Nummikoski for his many years of valuable work in the Executive Team for the benefit of Finland’s gaming companies and, through them, all Finns. His contribution, for example to the preparation of the new Gambling Act, has been extremely significant,” said CEO Sarekoski.
Responsibility for public affairs will transfer, as of 1 January 2026, to Director Tuomo Puumala, alongside his other areas of responsibility (data, AI, customer service and corporate responsibility).
Nummikoski served as CEO of the Slot Machine Association (RAY) from 2012 until the integration of the gaming companies – Veikkaus, RAY and Fintoto – at the end of 2016. As of the beginning of 2017, he has served as Deputy CEO of the new company.
“Being a member of Veikkaus’ Executive Team has in many ways been a dream come true. I have had the opportunity to play an active role in shaping Finland’s gambling system, first through the merger of the gaming companies and ultimately through the reform of the entire system. In short, I have been able to be part of making history. Now is a good moment to pass the baton on, as the system reform is in its final stage in Parliament and a new era in Veikkaus’ business is about to begin,” Nummikoski said.
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In an industry that never stands still, the race for innovation is constant. GoldenRace identified a shift in player behaviour: the modern audience craves more than just a bet; they want innovation, simplicity, gamification, fun, excitement, rewards and speed.
This realisation led to the birth of a brand-new vertical designed to bridge the gap between traditional betting and casual arcade gaming: Hit&Win.
GoldenRace’s first titles in this category are Arcade Heist, which takes the concept to a whole new level by introducing the essence of gaming: a community experience; and Fortune Fighters, a combat-themed experience that brings the intensity of a tournament arena to the palm of a player’s hand.
Arcade Heist moves away from the solitary nature of traditional betting and introduces a raid mechanic. In this game, the high-stakes world of undercover robberies meets classic arcade fun, but with a revolutionary twist.
On the other hand, what sets Fortune Fighters apart is its narrative depth. Players step into the shoes of Kai, a disciplined student fighting to restore his master’s honour against the reckless and loud Brotus. By entering “The Fortune Tournament”, players participate in a quest where every strike, dodge and move is a wager. This storytelling drives long-term engagement and player loyalty, turning a standard betting session into an immersive journey.
ICE 2026 Encore webinar: Reviewing Softquo’s major highlights
Want to know more about GoldenRace and the rest of Softquo companies’ revolution?
If you couldn’t make it to ICE Barcelona 2026, or if you want a strategic replay of the biggest announcements, you won’t want to miss this exclusive webinar!
Join Martin Wachter, Softquo’s CEO and Founder, Joey Kordahi, Softquo’s Project Manager and Simone Suppa, Novusbet’s Managing Director, as they review the essential topics and news introduced by the Softquo Holding at ICE 2026.
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Best Software Supplier of the Year
Champions Club Dominates the Event in GR8 Tech’s Largest ICE to Date
“ICE is where operators come with a plan,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “And this year, the demand was strong, as our meeting calendar was full and conversations were the kind that led to next steps. Champions Club worked because it was built for important decisions: practical learning and direct discussions about how to launch faster, localise properly, and keep performance strong when it matters most. That’s what we’re bringing into 2026.”
Platform for Champions, Proven at ICE
GR8 Tech showcased Platform for Champions, giving operators a clear view of how the stack supports various launch and scaling scenarios. The biggest conversation starter was Crypto Turnkey—a new launch built for operators who want more control over payments, faster routes to market, and access to crypto-forward player demand. Across meetings, the team spoke with existing partners and new prospects about how crypto can remove PSP bottlenecks, strengthen payment uptime, and unlock higher-value segments. Turnkey conversations drew the strongest pull, accounting for around 60% of all discussions.
Champions Club, Delivering the Energy
GR8 Tech left ICE Barcelona 2026 with a full calendar of follow-ups—and a format proven to work. Champions Club kept the space in constant motion: athletes and performers on treadmills (even in heels), pad-work sessions with Lee McFarland from Behind the Gloves, and meetings completely booked.
Acceler8 Lab ran at full capacity throughout, with sessions delivered in partnership with Gaming Operations Academy. GR8 Tech experts joined industry specialists, including Scott Rowan (Bet Data Consultants) and Verónica Guerrero (ElenPAY), to cover crypto payments, sportsbook optimization, AI implementation, and more.
The post Champions Club Dominates the Event in GR8 Tech’s Largest ICE to Date appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
eGaming Integrity launches Voluntary Code Advisory Service for prize draw operators
eGaming Integrity – a leading compliance and internal audit advisory firm – has launched a Voluntary Code Advisory Service to support online prize draw and competition operators as regulatory scrutiny of the sector increases and a new compliance deadline approaches.
The service was launched following the introduction of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Voluntary Code of Good Practice for online prize draws and competitions in November 2025. The Code sets a deadline of 20 May 2026. By that point, operators are expected to be more transparent, strengthen consumer protections and show active oversight of their operations. Failure to demonstrate effective voluntary compliance may increase the likelihood of statutory licensing and subsequent tighter regulation.
Prize draws are not regulated as gambling under the Gambling Act 2005. Despite this, the sector has grown rapidly and attracted attention in Westminster. The UK online prize draw market is now estimated to be worth around £1.3bn, with more than 7 million players. That scale has brought closer attention from policymakers.
The Voluntary Code shifts the focus from policy language to demonstrable practice. Operators now have to show what they actually do, and prove it.
eGaming Integrity’s new service is designed to help operators understand the requirements of the Code, assess current practices and prepare clear, practical evidence of compliance. Support covers areas including free entry routes, transparency of terms and odds, responsible marketing practices, internal monitoring processes and public disclosure of consumer protection measures.
Emma Shilling, Director at eGaming Integrity, said: “The Voluntary Code changes the conversation for prize draw operators. It is no longer enough to point to a policy and say the right words are there. Operators are being asked to show what happens in practice. Our job is to help businesses work that through properly, spot issues early and evidence what they are doing.”
eGaming Integrity’s audit and risk specialists lead the work. The focus is on practical rather than theoretical matters. Findings are clearly set out, with recommendations that operators can act on as regulatory expectations tighten.
Robert Penfold, Head of Internal Audit at eGaming Integrity, said:
“The writing is on the wall. This is voluntary for now, but that could change quickly. Operators who build real oversight systems today won’t be scrambling if this becomes statutory tomorrow.”
The Voluntary Code Advisory Service is available immediately to UK prize draw and competition operators.
The post eGaming Integrity launches Voluntary Code Advisory Service for prize draw operators appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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