Latest News
How Finland Became an Online Gambling Powerhouse
Finland is popular for many reasons. First, it is the happiest country in the world. It has the cleanest air and the best education system. Other attractions include its reindeers, thousands of lakes, and the Santa Claus Village.
On the surface, Finland doesn’t seem ideal for an online gambling revolution. However, the country has grown into a powerhouse over time. It is bustling with opportunities for both online casino fans and operators. Here are a few reasons why the region has been so competitive.
1. Variety of Options
The number of land-based casinos in Finland is limited. While this may seem like an issue, it actually fuels the online market. All of the country’s land-based casinos are managed under a state-owned monopoly. Therefore, the number of operators is limited. It is no surprise that betting fans are turning to online casinos.
Online casino operators don’t have to deal with any harsh restrictions. Therefore, there is a much wider variety of online casinos for Finnish players. International operators love the Finnish market and are happy to invest in it.
The economy is buoyant, and the government doesn’t impose many restrictions, even for casinos that are physically based elsewhere. Many Finnish-based operators have already set up business in the country, hence giving local players more options.
2. Change In Ethos
Finns have had a few concerns over the increased growth of online casinos in their country. While casino providers make profits, many were concerned about the issue of gambling addiction. There weren’t enough regulatory measures to protect such bettors.
However, regulations are now in place to promote responsible gambling. This was always an issue, but it became more obvious during COVID shutdowns. The industry continues to grow, and there are obvious efforts to improve the relationships between betting fans and online casino providers.
3. An Adaptable Market
As the online betting audience continues easing away from desktop to mobile devices, Finland moves with it. In fact, the country has always been ahead of the game in that regard. In the last year, mobile casino playing has increased by ten percent.
Finn bettors remain adaptable in both online and offline markets. Their government is pretty relaxed about online gambling, and the people are always excited to try out new things.
Finland is generally forward-thinking, and most people support the idea that individuals are at liberty to make independent choices. The freedom to adapt as you wish has helped expand the market.
4. Technological Advancement
Finland enjoys exceptional technological advancement. In fact, it is one of the leading European countries in regard to technology. Over 5.5 residents actively engage in some form of online gambling activities.
As a result,, the industry brings in two billion Euros every year. If things keep going as they are, the sum is likely to rise. All profits from state-owned facilities go to projects that profit the society including education and environmental research.
Since players know where profits from the online betting industry are going, they are excited to try out online casinos.
5. Diverse Market
Finnish online gambling sites appeal to diverse markets. Poker games and video slots haven’t been accessible to players for a long time. However, they are now available in almost all online casinos.
Liberal regulations, an open-minded population, and a tech-savvy market have made it possible for online casinos to target wider markets. Being such a progressive country, Finland is expected to continue enjoying growth over the years.
6. Active Encouragement
The Finnish government is actively encouraging its people to explore online casinos. It is known for its famous slang ‘A Finn always wins.’ This basically means that even if you lose, the money goes to projects that benefit the society.
This has helped Finns grow a betting culture that feels like a moral obligation. You will find slot machines everywhere you go; workplaces, cafes, shops, and gas stations. This is unique in European countries.
The government’s involvement in the industry may seem like a bad thing, but it is a double-edged sword that has helped the industry grow.
7. Moving Online
The country launched its first online casino in 1996. Play Among Friends joined the industry in 2007. After licensing, the operators started offering reliable gambling and live casino options.
Being such an affluent country, Finland’s mobile technology is spreading fast. Everything is happening online, and people have embraced online shopping, online learning, and consequently, online shopping. Ownership of modern mobile technologies is increasing, and people have now shifted to mobile gaming.
8. Outside Interest
Although the state prohibits foreign suppliers from marketing within its populace, it allows access to international networks and sites. Therefore, many outsiders are interested in the Finnish online casino market.
In addition, Finland doesn’t have any laws preventing its citizens from playing at foreign sites. The country has a deep culture of personal choice, and it has made things easy for outside investors.
9. The Country’s Love for Gaming
Finland has always loved gaming. It is one of the few countries in the world that have always had a natural love for online games, particularly slots and table games. In 2019, for example, the country’s biggest regulator recorded 13 million euros in revenue.
The gambling regulatory body reported that almost 50 percent of the adult population is actively involved in gambling. This doesn’t include those that subscribe to foreign casinos.
The Job Ahead
Even though Finland is already doing exceptionally well, it still has a challenge to overcome in the future. The biggest challenge is for the country to maintain its grip on the profits and progress. It must continue to support the gambling habits of the population to stay competitive.
Online casino providers have to stay ahead of the latest trends and promotions. They have to give players better bonuses and promotions. Since domestic providers are competing with big international companies, they have to step up. If they can no longer compete, revenue will decline.
Since the government mostly controls the industry, it requires extra effort to keep innovating. There are no indications that the government is going to change this system. However, it is probably going to affect neighboring countries.
Industry Awards
PopOK Gaming Won Two Prestigious Nominations at BFTH Arena Awards Ceremony
![popok-gaming-won-two-prestigious-nominations-at-bfth-arena-awards-ceremony](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/132949-popok-gaming-won-two-prestigious-nominations-at-bfth-arena-awards-ceremony.jpg)
PopOK Gaming has achieved remarkable success at the recent BFTH Arena Awards Ceremony, securing two prestigious awards that highlight the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the gaming industry.
The company was honored in the following categories:
1. Best FTN Casino Game for its Fast Fruits slot game which is known for its Classic design, bright colors, and seamless gameplay.
2. Best Game Achievement for Fast Master exciting crypto themed game with Avalanche reels, featuring multipliers in Free Spins
Both games have the innovative “FTN Mania” feature which awards Fasttokens for every spin.
“We are delighted to receive the BFTH Arena Awards” said Tsovinar Elchyan, Head of Partnerships at PopOK Gaming. “It was certainly an evening to remember. These achievements are a testament to our team’s hard work, and dedication to delivering outstanding games.”
The post PopOK Gaming Won Two Prestigious Nominations at BFTH Arena Awards Ceremony appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Mandelli celebrates 10 years with ITL
![mandelli-celebrates-10-years-with-itl](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/132947-mandelli-celebrates-10-years-with-itl.jpg)
Stefano Mandelli, Business Development Manager for Innovative Technology Ltd (ITL), is celebrating a decade with the leading provider of cash handling equipment and age & identity validation technology this month. Stefano is responsible for ITL’s presence in Italy and several countries within South East Europe.
Commenting on his long-standing achievement, Stefano said, “When I first joined Innovative back in 2014, my role focussed solely on growing our presence in Italy with an emphasis on the gaming and vending industries, alongside developing new markets. After a short period I expanded my territories, and as well as looking after customer in Italy, I am now responsible for a large part of South East Europe including Slovenia, Greece and Turkey. I am particularly proud of the strong partnerships I have established in all my regions, both with the main OEMs and with our approved Trading Partners and Service Centres. These collaborations have assisted with the growth of my markets, and even during difficult periods of supply, we have optimised lead times to ensure prompt product delivery.”
Enrique Jütten, VP of Sales & Business Development for ITL’s Gaming, Amusement and Vending sectors said, “ Stefano is an asset to our company and highly valued by the team, and his customers. Stefano’s main responsibilities are customer sales, forecasting and researching potential new business segments. He is an excellent account manager who understands his customers and their business models to ensure they choose the right ITL products to meet their needs.”
Continuing Stefano said, “ The growth of ITL and the development of new products has given me the tools to create opportunities in new sectors such as retail, banking, parking and transportation over the past few years. The best thing about my job is meeting people from different countries and getting to know their culture and advising them on how our products can elevate their business. My focus for the future is to continue to expand my area with the target to introduce and extend our new technologies and solutions in emerging sectors.”
Concluding Enrique said, “This is an impressive achievement and I would like to thank Stefano for his commitment to ITL. I look forward to seeing Stefano continue to grow our presence in his regions, and reach new markets over the coming years.”.
The post Mandelli celebrates 10 years with ITL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
BGaming evokes cartel chaos in Grand Patron
![bgaming-evokes-cartel-chaos-in-grand-patron](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/132945-bgaming-evokes-cartel-chaos-in-grand-patron.png)
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming is taking fearless players to the depths of the Grand Patron criminal empire. This feature-packed release includes two additional reels, a trio of modifiers, multipliers, three types of Free Spins modes, and a Wild symbol.
The cinematic video slot sees players step into the shoes of a cartel boss as two extra horizontal reels dictate their fate. They both reveal one random symbol during each spin in the main game, with the power to unlock one by one during the Free Spins mode.
Unpredictable gameplay is the main appeal of Grand Patron, with Spawner, Prison and Bombastic modifiers shaping its direction. Spawner sees a Wild or any regular symbol appear on both additional reels, leading to three of these symbols being added to the main game field. Prison features a question mark symbol landing on one of the additional reels, while the other sees a paytable symbol drop. The paytable character on the main reels will then be locked for a respin. If the Prison symbol lands on both extra reels, all symbols are locked and the screen is filled with one random paytable symbol, resulting in a win across all 20 paylines.
The Bombastic modifier occurs when a bomb symbol appears on one additional reel and any regular symbol on the other. The corresponding regular symbol on the main reels then explodes at the end of the spin. Random symbols fill the spaces, with the potential for future wins. Two bombs on additional reels clear the reels and trigger respins.
Free Spins mode is granted when two Scatters appear on the extra reels during the main game, with an initial 12 spins triggered. If a Prison symbol lands at the start of the round, three extra free spins are awarded. Additionally, players can purchase one of three Free Spins modes for between x100, x250 or x1,000 of their bet amount.
The Wild has the power to substitute all paying symbols in Grand Patron, while the Multiplier can greatly increase wins.
Aliaksej Baliukonis, Game Designers Team Lead at BGaming, said: “Just like a life of crime depicted in cartel movies, Grand Patron has twists and turns at every spin. Players who like unpredictable, high-volatility games will enjoy this release, which is one of our most feature-rich titles to date.”
The post BGaming evokes cartel chaos in Grand Patron appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
gaming2 years ago
ODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory7 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News6 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News5 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry6 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News5 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News6 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018