Veikkaus Prepares for End of Monopoly
Finland's government-owned gambling operator Veikkaus has warned it will be forced to axe jobs and close gaming venues ahead of planned changes in 2026.
Te transformation of the gambling industry and the upcoming system change mean a new era for Veikkaus, including reducing its number of gaming venues.
FINLAND OPERATOR NEWS
HOLLAND -Holland Casino has chosen Business Park Ter Borch as the new location for its Groningen casino. Holland Casino selected the location at the gateway to Groningen for its accessibility and construction opportunities. Business park Ter Borch on the edge of the municipality of Tynaarlo offers Holland Casino the best opportunities to build a casino that meets the company’s architectural and sustainability requirements. Moreover, the location at the gateway to Groningen is easily accessible for guests and there is ample parking. The new branch of Holland Casino, Holland Casino Groningen is expected to open in 2027.
UK – Kiron Interactive is reinforcing its foothold in the European market with the appointment of James Murray as its Head of New Business Development.
Murray will assume a pivotal role in driving Kiron's further expansion into the market, drawing upon his rich industry experience in both international and local markets, with notable roles at companies such as Mitek Systems, Northern Lights Gaming and Games Global. Murray also previously served as Head of Sales at Storm Gaming Technology.
UK – Blueprint Gaming has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Nick Wright as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer. Nick brings a wealth of operational experience to
Blueprint following a career which stretches back to the emergence of online gaming.
He most recently served as SVP Commercial Content at Bally’s Corporation and was Group Head of Business Development with Gamesys before it was acquired by the global operator group. He has also enjoyed senior positions with other iGaming brands, including Amaya Gaming and Playtech.
FRANCE – French casino group Partouche generated GGR of €178.7m during the third quarter 2023, up from €167.9m a year earlier, marking a 6.5 per cent increase. In France, GGR benefitted from an increase in attendance of 4.8 per cent, pushing revenues up to €161.5m, an increase of 5.6 per cent with slots and table games increasing by 5.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively. The GGR of electronic games increased by 9.8 per cent.
Internationally, GGR recorded an increase of 15.1 per cent, reaching € 17.2m. The GGR of Swiss online gaming was up 47.8 per cent to €4.2m. Q3 included three full months of activity for Middelkerke casino, providing GGR of €1.1m, up from €0.2m, with the casino operations having opened in July 2022.
P18 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Finland's government-owned gambling operator Veikkaus has warned it will be forced to axe jobs and close gaming venues as prepares for a more competitive marketplace once its monopoly ends, stating that the closures could include its newest venue, Casino Tampere.
Te operator said its preparations for ‘a new era’ will continue during the autumn. Preparations are underway to change the gambling system, and part of the market will be opened to competition at the beginning of 2026, according to the Government Programme entry. Te company said its goal is a 'sustainable and profitable business model' that 'guarantees competitiveness' in the future. Terefore, changes are planned to the organisational structure, which were to be discussed in the change negotiations that started in September.
Te negotiations cover almost the entire organisation and a total of 825 Veikkaus employees. Te negotiations may lead to the termination of the employment contracts of a maximum of approximately 240 employees and significant changes in the terms and conditions of employment of a maximum of 195 people.
Part of Veikkaus' digital gambling business is intended to become part of the international licensing gaming market. However, according to the plans, the lottery and physical slot machines
will remain within Veikkaus' monopoly. Veikkaus is targeting an operating model that enables it to focus on its core business. With it, the company aims to be able to respond to changes in Veikkaus' mission and operating environment as well as in the gaming industry.
CEO, Olli Sarekoski, said: "Preparing for the change in the gaming industry and internationalisation are a very important part of Veikkaus' growth strategy. Veikkaus intends to invest heavily in new business. We are building a future in which Veikkaus is Finland's most successful gambling company and a significant player in the international market.
“We are planning to reduce the number of gaming venues from 65 to approximately 40–50. Te change negotiations also deal with the possible closure of Tampere Casino. We want to be competitive in the future licensing market and viable in the monopoly market. Tat is why we need changes to our operations that apply to the entire company.”
Te transformation of the gambling industry and the upcoming system change mean a new era for Veikkaus, added the CEO. “Tat means many parallel changes. We review the entire organisation from the perspective of profitability and growth. We also have to make difficult decisions.”
Italy Rollbit pens sponsorship agreement with Napoli
Serie A side SSC Napoli has signed a two-year sponsorship deal with cryptocasino, Rollbit. Te deal will see Rollbit become SSC Napoli’s Official European Betting Partner for the 23/24 season.
Tis partnership marks an important milestone for both brands with SSC Napoli fresh from winning their historic title last season, and the deal marking Rollbit’s first-ever sports sponsorship. Rollbit, founded in 2020 and operated by licensed- operator Bull Gaming N.V., is best known for its platform with offerings including an NFT marketplace, crypto-lottery and on-site token exchange.
Rollbit believes that SSC Napoli are the perfect club to embark upon
this journey with – a club with a rich tradition, and ardent global fan base who are embarking on a new era as defending champions and the driving force behind Italian football.
“We are delighted to partner with one of the most iconic teams in world football, SSC Napoli. Gli Azzuri are one of the most beloved teams globally, and the team here at Rollbit are honoured to be a part of the family,” said Sam Norman, Rollbit’s Head of Partnerships.
“We feel this is the perfect time to begin this journey together with SSC Napoli,, coinciding with our vision to expand and establish ourselves as the most innovative and respected crypto gaming platform.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina
CT Interactive is set to provide online gaming supplier MD shop with its exclusive portfolio, including Aztec Gold 20, Champagne and Fruits, Fire Egg, Hit the Hot, 20 Mega Slot, Lizard Blizzard, Purple Fruits, Shining Treasures, Coffee Magic, and Win Storm.
“We see a lot of potential in the brand, and we will continue to follow its development and provide it with our latest games,” commented CT Interactive’s Ms. Tsankarska.
Filipović Sretan, Head of Operations at MD shop, said: “We want to be among the best suppliers in the country, and this wouldn’t be possible without the amazing gaming content of CT Interactive.
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