Latest News

Liberalization of Finnish Gambling Market Soon A Reality

Published

1 year ago

January 18, 2023

Foreign gambling companies are now preparing with greater confidence for the liberalization of the Finnish gambling market. A new coalition that is supposed to be lobbying for the liberalization includes seven foreign gambling companies with strong digital businesses in Europe and around the world.

The recently launched Gambling Industry Association’s purpose is to promote the introduction of a responsible and sustainable licensing system in the Finnish gaming market.

The founding members are the following gambling companies: Betsson, ComeOn Group, LeoVegas, Kindred Group, William Hill, Entain and Flutter.

According to the Helsingin Sanomat article, Kuismanen, who was elected CEO of the Gambling Industry Association, is currently working as Chief Economist of the Finnish Entrepreneurs. He will start his new job as early as mid-January 2023. Prior to that, Kuismanen has worked at the European Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance.

What will his role be then? Kuismanen will promote the views of the companies he represents at a time when the new Finnish government is most likely to consider dismantling the Veikkaus monopoly system. In the future, the gaming license system could therefore also be a reality in this Nordic country, that until now has relied on a monopoly.

In a press release from the Finnish Gaming Industry Association, Kuismanen says that Finland needs a reliable licensing system that operates according to common rules and legislation.

Veikkaus Has Already Shown Green Light

Veikkaus, the Finnish gambling monopoly, itself has already taken the view that the monopoly could be at least partially dismantled. You can read more here. Veikkaus’ own view therefore supports the licensing model. This is easy to understand, given that the company’s share of the total market has fallen to 50%. That is a huge amount of money that is constantly flowing abroad.

The licensing model is an excellent common sense solution for Finland, as foreign gambling companies would then have to obtain a separate license for their operations in Finland. This means that taxes would be paid in Finland, but at the same time the company would be able to market itself visibly and would have to operate under the supervision of the authorities.

If the reforms are adopted and the Finnish gambling market becomes open, all physical gaming machines and, for example, the lottery would remain the exclusive property of Veikkaus. Betting and other digital games, on the other hand, would be made available to players by dozens of different companies.

What Does This All Mean?

Reforms to gambling laws are more than welcome in Finland. The system is exceptionally outdated by European and even global standards and no longer reflects today’s notion of a market economy.

Majority of Finnish gaming professionals have long hoped that the gambling market would be liberalized in Finland too. At the moment, half of all money gambled is already going directly to foreign gambling companies. After reform, Finland would receive considerably more tax revenue than it does at present, and the casinos could also be regulated in the way the government wants.

Veikkaus Expanding Its Business Opportunities: Fennica Gaming

Veikkaus was given the opportunity to expand its business from B2C betting and gaming in the domestic market in Finland with the introduction of the Lotteries Act earlier this year. Indeed, a new Lotteries Act was passed in Finland in 2021, which therefore enabled Veikkaus to expand this new business and launch international B2B operations. Not many citizens knew anything about this and a Veikkaus subsidiary was quietly set up.

The new division of the Finnish state-backed betting monopoly will offer international gaming services and products to corporate customers in various areas of betting and gaming.

After long and thorough preparations, the new business was launched very quickly. Fennica was more than enthusiastic about the new business, as it marked the beginning of a completely new era in the history of Finnish gambling. The new company will enable Veikkaus and Fennica to commercialize gambling talent, of which there is plenty in Finland

Fennica Gaming has already signed its first contract with the Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance. This is a joint venture set up by Veikkaus last year, working with Danske Lotteri Spil from Denmark, Française des Jeux from France and Norsk Tipping from Norway.

The Fennica Gaming casino company is helping Norsk Tipping to build an entirely new gaming portfolio in the entertainment category, called Yezz. The idea is to be stylish, innovative and responsible at the same time.

Fennica Gaming Casino Company Focuses on International Market

As part of Veikkaus’ international B2B division, Fennica Gaming offers gaming services and products worldwide, and the two above-mentioned will combine their product portfolio.

The supplier agreements came about as Veikkaus, a Finnish state-backed operator, reached an agreement between its new subsidiary and Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance.

All of Veikkaus’s activities under the surface seem to us to indicate quite clearly that its monopoly position is gradually being abandoned.

Sector And Background Information

The trade press registers show that Fennica Gaming is active in the design and manufacture of software.

The business description states that its business is to sell, rent and develop games and software related to gambling, lotteries and entertainment games.

Fennica Gaming’s website still provides very little information about the company’s activities and products. This is, of course, understandable as it is basically a completely new player in the industry. This is also reflected on the site, as the company claims to have considerable experience in gambling and its multi-channel development.

Fennica Gaming is an independent provider of gaming solutions and services, born out of the extensive heritage of the industry. The backing company Veikkaus is a well-known gaming operator with nine decades of successful experience in the gaming industry.

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Cryptocurrency

BitLine Enhances Onboarding Experience in Collaboration with Jumio: Simplified KYC for Casino Patrons

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Alan Campbell

This collaboration emphasizes convenience, security and regulatory compliance

Through the BitLine app, users can seamlessly transact with up to US$10 million in casino chips 24/7

BitLine, a pioneering provider in the integration of digital assets for direct access to casino chips, proudly announces a strategic alliance with Jumio, an industry leader renowned for its comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) solutions.

This partnership marks a significant milestone as BitLine streamlines its onboarding process for casino patrons, ensuring a seamless and secure journey into the realm of digital asset-based payments for gaming.

The collaboration between BitLine and Jumio signifies a commitment to delivering unparalleled convenience while upholding the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance. By leveraging Jumio’s advanced technology, BitLine reinforces its dedication to building trust among users and offering a frictionless experience for individuals seeking access to casino chips via digital assets.

Richard Jones, the Chief Executive Officer for BitLine by Ibanera, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “Trust and compliance are the cornerstones of every successful casino venture. At BitLine, our vision to innovate this industry through digital assets hinges on maintaining trust and adherence to regulations. Our collaboration with Jumio represents a monumental stride towards achieving this vision, ensuring that casino patrons transact securely and confidently through our platform.”

Echoing this sentiment, Robert E Prigge, the Chief Executive Officer for Jumio, commented: “The evolving landscape of digital assets presents endless possibilities and BitLine’s innovative approach has reshaped the casino industry. By eliminating withdrawal limitations and expanding accessibility, BitLine has ushered in a new era of gaming. We are thrilled to contribute to BitLine’s journey by providing essential elements of security and compliance.”

BitLine by Ibanera grants cryptocurrency owners unprecedented access to up to US$10 million in casino chips, 24/7/365, serving as a conduit for liquidity on the casino floor. Through the intuitive BitLine app, casino enthusiasts worldwide can initiate transactions within minutes, leveraging their digital assets to unlock funds effortlessly.

Latest News

Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

George Miller

Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

Sportradar Group AG today announced that Craig Felenstein has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective June 1, 2024. Felenstein joins the Company from Lindblad Expeditions where he most recently served as Chief Financial Officer. He will report directly to Sportradar Chief Executive Officer Carsten Koerl.

Felenstein brings nearly 30 years of senior finance and operating experience for US publicly listed companies across the media, entertainment, experiential and digital content industries to his new position at Sportradar. Most recently, Felenstein served as Chief Financial Officer at Lindblad Expeditions, a global leader in expedition cruises and adventure travel, where he oversaw the company’s global finance organization, as well their corporate development, information technology and human resources functions. In his role as Sportradar’s Chief Financial Officer, Felenstein will lead the company’s global finance, accounting and investor relations functions. Felenstein has a unique blend of financial rigor and operational insight and will partner with the rest of the executive leadership team to advance the company’s key strategic initiatives and grow the business while maintaining strong relationships with the investment community. He will be based in New York.

Carsten Koerl, CEO, Sportradar said: “With Craig’s deep international experience and successful track record building finance organizations as a CFO at US listed public companies, I am confident that he will be a strong addition to our team. His track record of helping drive financial strategy and building shareholder value will be instrumental to our continued success. We want to express our deep gratitude to Ger Griffin for his meaningful contributions to Sportradar during a transformational growth period for our Company.”

Prior to his tenure at Lindblad, Felenstein served as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Finance at Shutterstock where he oversaw all interaction with the investment community while leading the financial planning and analysis and corporate development functions. Prior to Shutterstock, he served in various management roles at Discovery Communications, LLC, including Executive Vice President of Investor Relations. At the same time, he was a member of the executive team for several of Discovery’s businesses including serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Digital, Chief Financial Officer of US Network Revenue and Chief Financial Officer of Animal Planet. Prior to Discovery Communications, he held senior positions at News Corporation, Viacom Inc., and Arthur Andersen & Co.

Felenstein said: “Sportradar has built an impressive leadership position in the rapidly growing global sports technology market and the Company is ideally situated to deliver sustained growth given their strong content portfolio, unmatched product offerings and commitment to industry innovation. I am excited to work with Carsten and the entire Sportradar team, as well as the Board of Directors, to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities ahead and deliver additional value to our clients, partners and shareholders.”

Compliance Updates

Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Appoints Régis Dudena as Secretary of Prizes and Betting

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Regis Dudena, a seasoned lawyer with expertise in Public and Regulatory Law, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance in Brazil. Dudena’s appointment ordinance is signed by Rui Costa, Minister of the Civil House.

The new secretary had already been visiting the Ministry of Finance and getting closer to the entire group at the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, until then led by Simone Vicentini, deputy secretary.

The appointment of the lawyer is attributed to the Executive Secretary of Finance, Dario Durigan. Dario and Dudena worked together at Palácio do Planalto during Dilma Rousseff’s government.

Both worked in the Legal Affairs secretariat of the Civil House. Dudena’s name is linked to other names on the left. He has good relations with Edinho Silva (PT), mayor of Araraquara (SP).

The SPA started operating two months ago. Since then, it had been without a permanent boss. Lawyer José Francisco Manssur, special advisor to the Ministry of Finance who coordinated the regulation of sports betting from the beginning, was the most likely to take on the position. But he was exonerated under pressure from Centrão politicians.

Bets representatives welcomed the name Régis Dudena.

From the beginning, the SPA was under the responsibility of Simone Vicentini, appointed as deputy secretary. Since then, it has edited the ordinances that defined requirements for laboratory accreditation and the sector’s regulatory policy.

Under her supervision, three laboratories have already been approved, GLI, eCogra, and BMM. Last week, the ordinance establishing the rules for payment transactions to be complied with by sports betting and online gaming operators was also published.