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Finland: Prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased – gambling problems still as common as before

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According to a study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the prevalence of “at-risk gambling” which causes individual mild harms has decreased in Finland. The 2019 study indicated that 11 per cent of the Finnish population had engaged in at-risk level gambling in the past 12 months. In the previous study, conducted in 2015, the proportion of at-risk gamblers was 15 per cent. The prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased in both men and women.

At-risk gambling refers to gambling which causes some individual harms and often precedes the development of problem gambling. According to the 2019 study, three per cent of the Finnish population, meaning approximately 112,000 people, had experienced gambling problems. The proportion of such individuals has remained the same since 2007.

According to the study, 1.4 per cent of Finns – around 52,000 people – suffered in 2019 from probable pathological gambling, which is the most severe form of problematic gambling.

In contrast, the study indicates that gambling without indentified problems has increased. The number of gamblers remained the same between 2015 and 2019, but changes took place in the frequency of gambling: the proportion of Finns who gambled less often than once a month increased, whereas the proportion of those gambling more often than this decreased.

The past-year prevalence of gambling at least one game type among the respondents was 78.4 per cent.

 

Online gambling has become more common

In 2019, one third of the respondents (36.3 %) had been gambling online. The proportion of online gamblers increased by 12.7 percentage points from 2015.

At the same time, the proportion of those who gambled games offered by foreign operators increased from 3.3 to 5.4 per cent. Almost all gamblers (98.1 %) who had gambled games offered by an operator other than Veikkaus Oy had also gambled Veikkaus Oy’s games.

In 2019, 2.5 per cent of the gamblers accounted for one half of the total gambling expenditure. This means that of the 2,917,000 people living in mainland Finland who participated in gambling in 2019, 72,000 people spent one half of the total expenditure of that year. Veikkaus Oy’s share of the online gambling expenditure was 83.6 per cent, while the other game operators accounted for 16.4 per cent.

“Only a relatively few people gamble games offered by operators other than Veikkaus, when compared to the number of those gambling Veikkaus games. Then again, there is big money involved in foreign online games. Therefore, it is now important to monitor how the closing of the Finnish slot machines due to the coronavirus epidemic affects online gambling”, says THL Senior Researcher Anne Salonen.

 

One in five Finns has someone with problematic gambling in their immediate social circle

Just over one fifth (21.1 %) of the respondents reported that at least one person in their immediate social circle had demonstrated problematic gambling. This means that around 790,000 persons are affected by someone close to them having a gambling problem, and this proportion has increased.

According to Salonen, the result may also indicate that Finns have become more aware of gambling problems, and the issue is now discussed more openly and boldly than before.

Since 2007, THL has been monitoring gambling, the prevalence of gambling problems, and the attitudes and opinions related to gambling by carrying out a population survey every four years among Finnish people aged from 15 to 74. In 2019, the study was participated in by 3994 Finns. Statistics Finland conducted the interviews over the telephone. The study was carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and commissioned and financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (section 52 of the Lotteries Act).

THL publishes the Finnish Gambling 2019 results in stages; the first step now is to publish the main results concerning gambling and gambling problems. The results concerning the attitudes and opinions related to gambling will be published later this year.

 

Source: thl.fi

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Logifuture appoints Khoren Kalashyan to accelerate global rollout of flagship virtual products

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Leading iGaming products supplier Logifuture has appointed Khoren Kalashyan as Senior Business Development manager to drive growth in regulated markets.

Kalashyan brings a wealth of experience from commercial and product leadership roles across some of the industry’s most ambitious companies.

He joins Logifuture after almost six years at FeedConstruct, where he held multiple positions, including Business Development Executive and Official Brand Ambassador, helping scale the company’s reach across Europe and Asia through strategic partnerships and commercial activations.

He also served as Head of Products at Sportify, where he was instrumental in launching tournaments such as the ITT Cup in Czech Republic and in Slovakia and the Badminton Infinity Cup, establishing Sportify as a competitive B2B content provider in underserved markets.

His tenure saw him align product innovation with operator needs, delivering high-margin, high-engagement formats.

Logifuture fuels the growth of some of the fastest-growing iGaming brands in emerging markets, including in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa, where it powers Bet9ja – Nigeria’s leading sportsbook.

At Logifuture, Kalashyan will focus on accelerating the global rollout of its flagship virtual sports products – Zoom Soccer and Simulate – which are redefining realism in virtual play through continuous 24/7 action and sophisticated RNG that mirrors real-world dynamics.

Kalashyan said: “Logifuture’s products are built lean, scale fast, and resonate with what modern players want.

“In this space, milliseconds matter and we’re engineering for that advantage.”

The post Logifuture appoints Khoren Kalashyan to accelerate global rollout of flagship virtual products appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Dr. Gloria Herndon Prepares Launch of Charitable Casino Platform in Kenya, with A License Secured

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Dr. Gloria Herndon—international economist, philanthropist, and long-standing advocate for underserved communities—is preparing to launch a charitable casino platform in Kenya, where a license has already been secured. The platform will be operated by Top Deck Entertainment, where Dr. Herndon serves as Chairman of the Board, and developed in partnership with Humanitarian Gaming International (HGI)/Electronic Gaming Solutions, Inc. (EGS)

This initiative marks the beginning of a new model for regulated casino gaming in Africa—one built to generate real, measurable community impact. A dedicated portion of net gaming profits will go directly to charitable local organizations, supporting causes such as youth development, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

“This isn’t just a business venture—it’s a reinvestment mechanism,” said Dr. Herndon. “We’re building something that generates revenue and returns it to the communities that need it most.”

A Regulated Model Designed for Impact
While the charitable platform has not yet launched, all required licensing has been secured in Kenya. Once active, the platform will offer traditional casino gaming in a tightly regulated environment, designed with responsible gaming safeguards and operational transparency at its core.

A percentage of net profits will be directed to vetted local nonprofits. Humanitarian Gaming International (HGI)/ EGS will provide the content for the charitable platform, governance support, operational guidance, and oversight to ensure accountability and measurable results.

Profits Will Support These Key Areas:

  • Youth Empowerment – Mentorship, after-school programs, and creative opportunities
  • Scholarships & Education Grants – Tuition assistance and educational advancement
  • Entrepreneurship Support – Seed funding and mentorship for local startups
  • Women’s Economic Development – Business training and career support for women
  • Community Health Access – Mobile clinics and basic health services
  • Emergency Relief – Rapid-deployment funds for disasters and urgent needs
  • Job Creation – Employment tied directly to casino operations and outreach
  • Support for Orphans – Housing, education, and care for children without guardians
  • Aid for Survivors of Sexual Violence – Trauma-informed care and legal advocacy
  • Support for Elder Caregivers – Dignity-focused financial and wellness assistance

About Dr. Gloria Herndon
Dr. Gloria Herndon is a pioneering international economist and philanthropist with a six-decade career advancing equity, infrastructure, and economic development across Africa and beyond. She has led high-impact initiatives in finance, public health, and education, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Top Deck Entertainment. Her latest venture reflects her lifelong commitment to building systems that serve people first.

The post Dr. Gloria Herndon Prepares Launch of Charitable Casino Platform in Kenya, with A License Secured appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet Launches Legendary Reward Drops

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Hard Rock Bet announced the launch of Legendary Reward Drops, a new online rewards program that will engage players with monthly Levels and guaranteed weekly rewards and promotions. In addition, Hard Rock Bet has fully integrated into Unity by Hard Rock™, where play on Hard Rock Bet will simultaneously earn players Unity Points, Unity Tier Credits, and Level Credits to ‘level up’ towards more valuable weekly Legendary Reward Drops. As a combined rewards and loyalty experience, Legendary Reward Drops and Unity by Hard Rock will create unparalleled value, benefits, and omnichannel opportunities for Hard Rock Bet players.

The new Legendary Reward Drops will provide players with valuable weekly rewards like bonus bets, parlay insurance, and Unity Point multipliers – all suspensefully presented through an immersive experience of a custom guitar case unveiling the contents of each Drop. The program features eight monthly levels that will provide players with Drops of increasing value based on their play. Players will be able to track their progress towards ‘leveling up’ within the rewards experience.

Hard Rock Bet has also streamlined its loyalty program through Unity by Hard Rock, providing players with a true omnichannel experience and the ability to earn and redeem incredible rewards at participating Hotels, Cafes, Casinos, Rock Shops, and more. Additionally, rewards in the online Rewards Store have been upgraded to recently include merchandise, local concert tickets, and hotel stays at resort properties in HollywoodPunta Cana, and the Maldives.

“We’re proud to offer our players the best of both worlds: A rewards program with guaranteed weekly Drops and an unparalleled global loyalty program with Unity by Hard Rock. With our combination of a top-rated product and omnichannel benefits that can score players concert tickets, enhance their play, and send them on vacations around the world, we’ve created a connected entertainment experience and further solidified Hard Rock Bet as the best place to play,” said Mike Primeaux, Hard Rock Bet’s Executive Managing Director – Chief Operating Officer.

The post Hard Rock Bet Launches Legendary Reward Drops appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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