Estonia
Punching above its weight
Following on from our report on Lithuania at the end of last year, we take a look the diverse gaming
markets of Estonia, the smallest of the Baltic trio, to discover what makes one of the countries with the fastest growth rates in the EU, also a hotbed for gaming activity.
Estonia emerged from its Soviet shadow 30 years ago and has gained a reputation as a country with political stability, a free media and has become one of the most economically successful eastern European members.
Although growth is slowing due to infrastructure spending, an ageing population, weaker export markets and labour shortages, it still comes out at the top of the economic growth chart.
Te economic growth rate in 2019 was 3.3 per cent and is expected to drop to 2.1 per cent this year according to forecasts by the Bank of Estonia. Te unemployment rate is currently 4.6 per cent and is also expected to increase.
Tere are still undercurrents of corruption and crime. Danske Bank, for example, is undergoing another round of lawsuits over alleged money laundering, including a suspicious payment that went through a small branch in Estonia between 2007 and 2015.
Early last year, the former head of Danske Bank in Estonia was founded dead. Aivar Rehe had disappeared in September and was apparently a
witness to a US$230bn ongoing money laundering investigation, but not a suspect. His body was found two days after he disappeared near his home and is being treated as suicide.
On a more positive note, the state budget strategy for 2020-2023 incorporates five priorities – a family friendly Estonia, a cohesive society, a knowledge-based economy, efficient governance and a free and protected state.
Estonia has a reputation of being at the cutting edge of information technology and by 2016 some 91 per cent of the population were online. Television is the country’s most popular medium and has attracted foreign media groups and the main privatelyowned stations are run by three companies. Eesti Television, TV3 and Kanal 2 are the main public and commercial television sites.
Te country’s media last year was ranked 11th “most free in the world,” but lately there have been stories of censorship and threats to journalists sharing ‘aggressive’ political articles. Several high profile journalists have quit their jobs after being offered a choice between “self censorship or departure” after criticising political
Estonia has a reputation of being at the cutting edge of information technology and by 2016 some 91 per cent of the population were online. Television is the country’s most popular medium and has attracted foreign media groups and the main privately owned TVs are run by three major companies. Eesti Television, TV3 and Kanal 2 are the main public and commercial sites. NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P57
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