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Finnish Minister Says State Should Treat Gambling Monopoly Revenues like Alcohol Profits

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Antti Kurvinen, Finland’s minister of science and culture, has proposed that revenues from the state-owned gambling monopoly, Veikkaus, be transferred to the state budget.

On Saturday Kurvinen said that the betting agency’s income is declining, and without a change so will the income of charities and other groups that benefit from its profits. Veikkaus revenues are distributed to organisations in the fields of culture, sports, science, and youth work as well as social welfare and health.

Kurvinen proposed making the change from the beginning of 2024.

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“My view is that from the beginning of 2024, Veikkaus’ income should be transferred to the state budget in the same way as, for example, Alko transfers its own dividends and income to the state budget, from which they are used for good purposes,” Kurvinen said.

Kurvinen said that he has reached the same position on the matter as a working group chaired by former Bank of Finland Governor Erkki Liikanen, which last spring proposed a comprehensive reform to divert gambling revenues to general government revenue and transfer current beneficiaries to the budget framework procedure.

The need for reform is due to Veikkaus’ declining income. This is due to a drop in slot machine revenues because of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as measures taken to tackle gambling addiction.

“Without a clear change and reform, we will find ourselves in a situation where the income of Veikkaus’ beneficiaries is constantly falling. This is about the income of Finnish science, culture, youth organisations and especially sports and exercise,” Kurvinen said.

According to Kurvinen, the distribution of Veikkaus revenues through the budget would bring predictability to cash flows, which is essential for beneficiaries.

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“Recent years have shown that we are in a strange situation here: the success of a Finnish gaming company determines what kind of resources there are, for example, for top Finnish sports and youth sports or for high-level Finnish research. This creates a strange, uncertain situation,” Kurvinen said.

The problem with the new way of distributing Veikkaus, revenues has been that it would make the funding of beneficiaries dependent on political decision-making.

Kurvinen does not deny that the change would increase the role of political decision-making, but said he considers that a lesser evil than the uncertainty and funding cuts that lie ahead if no reforms are made.

“In the long run, however, it would be clearer and less problematic to make political value decisions than for the success of Veikkaus’ business to be the determining factor in how many opportunities there are for young researchers in Finland or how much art is funded in Finland,” Kurvinen said.

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Portuguese start-up FootAR is enhancing the Euro 2024 experience with AR tracking and smart data

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With the summer of football heating up, FootAR is showing how live sports can be enhanced with augmented reality. It has created a real-time companion that gamifies the sports experience and emulates player movements with 3D foosball-like figures, adding smart stats and prizes for fans.

FootAR has already made its mark in Portugal, where two notable media organisations have integrated it into their coverage. GMG (Jornal de Notícias) and SportsMultimedia (VSports) use FootAR to bring a 3D experience to Euro 2024 fans.

FootAR is one of 22 companies in the Portuguese games development and creative industries cluster eGamesLab. This ambitious R&D project led out of Madeira aims to attract and develop new talent and technology focused on the growing national video game industry.

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FootAR’s platform went live earlier this year. The initial rollout covered Portuguese league games, partnering with some of the biggest Portuguese clubs like SC Braga and CD Nacional before expanding to cover all the matches at Euro 2024. It offers real-time statistics, in-depth analysis, and seamless integration for news outlets covering live games on their websites.

Fans can relive every goal, track every pass, and stay connected to the game with real-time updates and AR-enhanced visuals. The technology allows fans to rewatch the most significant moments in a live game and view them from multiple angles, together with an accompanying audio commentary.

“We understand the insatiable appetite for football data and the desire to go beyond the final score,” says David Olim, Co-Founder of FootAR. “FootAR empowers fans to delve deeper into the action, following their favourite players, teams, and leagues, and is the perfect way for enthusiasts to analyse the beautiful game – but that’s just the start. As a father of two young children, my goal is to shape how younger generations immerse themselves in these communal experiences. Looking to the future, our interests go way beyond sports. We are starting with football, but within five years, we will have personalised experiences for clubs, artists, and brands to build their own interactive events. 

 

Key Features:

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Augmented Reality – relive the match’s key moments from multiple angles through 3D AR visuals, and get closer to the action with real-time data overlays to follow the game how you want to.

Custom Data Suite – access in-depth statistics for players and teams such as expected goals, pass accuracy and tackles lost. In-game notifications can be customised, ensuring key moments in the game are never missed.. 

Audio Commentary – FoorAR can sync with local radio broadcasts, creating a combination of live commentary and live data which really brings events to life.

With FootAR, new avenues for monetizing audience engagement and sponsors are available to media companies and clubs looking for a solution to drive greater fan engagement, as well as opening up new revenue streams through in-game activations.

Fans can transform their football experience today by downloading FootAR for free on Android and iOS and using the Web/Desktop app. Apple VisionPro and Meta Quest versions of the experience are also being developed and will be released in Q3 2024.

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Week 27/2024 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

Evolution announced the launch of Balloon Race, its latest-generation online slot game that brings together traditional, much-loved slot features with the excitement of a live game-show-style bonus round featuring a ball drawing machine. Balloon Race, in which players soar high and accumulate multipliers in Qualification and Top-Up phases, follows on from the likes of Evolution’s hugely successful Crazy Coin Flip and Crazy Pachinko slot games with live bonus rounds.

Evolution launches Balloon Race, colourful, latest-generation online slot with live bonus round

 

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Blueprint Gaming’s renowned folklore series returns in style as a host of thrilling mechanics lead the way including the lavish Cash Strike Bonus round and the studio’s brand-new Rapid-Fire Jackpots™ in Luck O’ The Irish Cash Strike. The classic 3×3 grid takes its place under a true Irish rainbow in the countryside as a feast of fruits is accompanied by diamond and golden coin symbols in the base game.

Boundless gold awaits in Blueprint Gaming’s Luck O’ The Irish Cash Strike

 

Booming Games launches yet another instalment in its buffalo migration adventure with its latest game – Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme. This is a stunning 5×3, 25 payline slot which is set against the stunning backdrop of grasslands and canyons where players will experience the most thrilling and hazardous part of the buffalo trek.

 

The team at Blue Guru has paid homage to this unpredictability and insanity in St. Louis 1904 which is packed with bonus features that will keep players pounding the dusty tracks of Missouri in search of victory and potentially big wins. This includes Instant Money Medal Symbols and a Progressive Multiplier Free Games Bonus. Free Spins are triggered when three or more Scatter symbols land on the reels – in the base game, if two Scatters land a second chance feature can trigger.

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AC MILAN AND BOOMERANG SIGN A NEW REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP DEAL

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The global company offering a wide range of iGaming products becomes Rossoneri’s Official Regional Betting Partner in Europe

AC Milan is delighted to announce a new partnership with Boomerang, which will see the company become the Official Regional Betting Partner of the Rossoneri in Europe.

Boomerang, a global company founded in 2021, has rapidly established a strong worldwide presence. Its portfolio features a diverse range of sports betting products, including the flagship brand – Boomerang Sportsbook. The company has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, underscored by numerous industry awards.

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This partnership represents a significant milestone for both AC Milan and Boomerang. Both organizations are dedicated to building solid brand credibility and creating an innovative, long-term vision. Boomerang’s rapid growth and dynamic approach align perfectly with AC Milan’s commitment to excellence, strategic global growth, and fan engagement.

Maikel Oettle, Chief Commercial Officer of AC Milan, commented: “We are excited to team up with Boomerang, as this partnership holds great value for our fans. Together, we aim to enhance fan engagement across Europe, offering unique experiences that celebrate our shared passion for sports. By working closely with Boomerang, we look forward to creating memorable moments and strengthening our connection with sports enthusiasts in Europe.”

Ivan Kraynov, Co-Founder of Boomerang, added: “We are incredibly excited to become the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan. This collaboration with the Rossoneri marks a significant milestone for Boomerang. We join forces with the team with which we share our commitment to winning, bravery, and innovation. Together, we’ll strive to drive sports trends and deliver an exclusive experience to fans, partners, and users.”

The post AC MILAN AND BOOMERANG SIGN A NEW REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP DEAL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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