Scandinavia – Page 7

Spillemyndigheden: More Than 30,000 Danes Self-excluded from Gambling Since 2012

January 20, 2022 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The Danish gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden has reported that as of the end of 2021, 30,451 people were registered with ROFUS, the country’s register of voluntarily excluded players.

The increase from 26,115 registrations at the end of 2020 is in line with previous years. Spillemyndigheden says an average of 4000 people per year have signed up since the self-exclusion scheme was launched in 2012.

The largest proportion of people registered is in the 20-29 age group, which makes up 30% of the total, ahead of the 30-39 age group (28%). Over 60s represent just 8% of those registered, with 6% in the 60-69 age group and 2% aged 70-79.

Three-quarters of those registered were men, although the split was more even in the older age groups. A quarter of all those using the scheme were men aged 20-29, and 22% were men aged 30-39. Some 4% were men aged under 20.

Spillemyndigheden launched a television and social media campaign for the ROFUS self-exclusion scheme in September, informing players about their right to ask operators to let them “take-a-break” and self-exclude from all gambling promotions.

It became a requirement for all licensed operators to refer self-excluded players to the central ROFUS database under reforms to the Danish Gambling Act implemented in 2018.

How Finland Became an Online Gambling Powerhouse

December 28, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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.

DGA: Order and action brought against Unibet (Denmark) Limited for breach of the Anti-Money Laundering Act

December 13, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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On 10 December 2021, the Danish Gambling Authority has brought action against Unibet (Denmark) Limited for breaching the rules on customer due diligence of section 10(1), 11(1)(4) and 17(1), and the rules on the obligation to investigate of section 25(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Concurrently, the Danish Gambling Authority has ordered Unibet to notify the Money Laundering Secretariat of a previous player with Unibet to correct an existing breach of the obligation to notify of section 26(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Unibet has been given a deadline of two weeks to make the report.

The action for failure to comply with the rules on customer due diligence and failure to comply with the obligation to investigate is brought against Unibet because Unibet has let a player deposit DKK 1.4 million to his account in the period from December 2016 to 2018 without having sufficient knowledge about whether or not the players funds originated from crime. This toke place despite the fact that Unibet had noted in March 2015 that the player, who at the time was inactive – must be monitored if he became active again.

In December 2018, Unibet requested that the player submit documentation for the origin of the funds. The documentation provided by the player confirmed the suspicion that the player gambled much more than he could finance via his income and assets. Despite this, Unibet let the player continue to deposit about DKK 1.8 million to his account during 2019 and up until April 2020, when his account was closed.

The order on notification is given because Unibet in the same case has omitted to notify the Money Laundering Secretariat, although they already in 2015 had a suspicion which was never dismissed. Since Unibet has not yet notified the Money Laundering Secretariat, the breach still exists and consequently, Unibet has received an order to correct the situation by making a report.

Unibet and SEF to Offer Safer Gambling Training Courses

December 11, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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One thousand active professional football players and their coaches will undertake online training courses in player responsibility and safer gambling. The training comes as a result of collaboration between Unibet and Swedish Elite Football (SEF) and is a part of the sponsorship agreement for the two Swedish leagues Allsvenskan and Superettan.

As the main partner to Swedish Elite Football (SEF), Unibet will work together with SEF and the 32 male elite football clubs that are represented in Allsvenskan and Superettan leagues, to educate players and coaches in safer gambling. The online training will now start after the season has ended and the Integrity Officer of each club will ensure the training is conducted.

“During our partnership with Swedish Elite Football (SEF), we have made several efforts to fight match-fixing and harmful gambling. This training is only one example of the work we do with SEF and we will continue our great efforts throughout the contract period,” Philip Lagström, Country Manager Unibet Sweden, said.

“For us, it is very important to share and contribute our knowledge through this sponsorship. Unibet wants a sustainable gambling industry and our ambition is to reach zero per cent revenue derived from harmful gambling by 2023,” Lagström added.

“For some individuals, in society as well as within the athletic environment, gambling can, unfortunately, become a problem. Together with our partner Unibet, we want to take responsibility and offer an additional responsible gambling tool through this training,” Anders Wikström, League Integrity Officer at Swedish Elite Football, said.

“The online training contains a self-assessment where by answering certain questions, you get insight into your current gambling behaviour. Something that we see as a very important measure. The training also contains contact information for those who feel that they might be in a harmful situation, which provides us with reassurance,” Wikström added.

Swintt’s Golden Reindeer spreads the holiday cheer in two new markets

December 7, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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One of the slot provider’s top performing slot is set to bring more festive fun to MGA and SGA licensed operators this Christmas

In-demand slot provider, Swintt, is gearing up for the holiday season by making its popular Golden Reindeer slot available at all partnering casinos in Malta and Sweden.

Having been something of a staple in studio’s Christmas catalogue since its release last year, players have already enjoyed the slot’s 243 ways to win and festive Free Spins – and now it’s time for those at MGA and SGA licensed casinos to get in on the action too.

Taking place across a 5×3 reel matrix, Golden Reindeer provides everything you’d want from a holiday-themed slot. The gentle ringing of sleigh bells and whistle of cold winter wind provides the perfect soundtrack for players as they go dashing through the snow in search of top wins of 14280x their bet.

Unique symbols to feature in the game are also perfectly suited for the season, with presents, stockings, snowmen, sleighs and Christmas trees making up the slot’s higher-value icons. The theme is even extended to the more traditional ace-through-ten playing card values, with these lower-value symbols being adorned with baubles, bows and Santa hats to really hammer home the holiday spirit.
In terms of the game’s features, the two symbols players need to look out for are the titular golden reindeer and jolly old St Nick, who acts as the game’s scatter. The former is substitute wild that can replace any regular icon to form winning paylines, while the latter is used to trigger the bonus round.

In order to activate this fun, festive feature, players need to land three or more scatters anywhere on the reels within a single spin. When they do, they’ll receive between 8 and 20 Free Spins – depending on the number of triggering symbols – before being transported to a new set of supercharged reels.

With both the background and music changing to herald the start of the feature, here players will get to enjoy their bonus games with the added incentive that the golden reindeer will now add a prize multiplier to any wins that it completes. Landing more reindeers obviously results in more multipliers being added together, with a maximum boost of 15x really helping players increase their feature wins.
Golden Reindeer has already proved to be one of Swintt’s top performing slots in other markets, and the provider is confident that it will continue to spread the festive cheer on its extended re-release.

David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “Christmas has always been a time for giving – and this year we’re giving back to players at Malta and Sweden-licensed sites by making our popular Golden Reindeer slot available to them for the first time.
“The game has already proved to be one of the most successful slots in the Swintt line-up and we’re delighted to be able to share its magic with a brand new audience just ahead of the festive period.”

Slotmill concludes agreement with Bethard

November 20, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Slotmill has signed a license agreement with Bethard. Founded in 2012 Bethard focuses primarily on the nordic region operating the brands bethard. com and fastbet. com. The Slotmill games will become available to players during Q4.

The delivery will be made through the partnership with RelaxGaming.

Johan Ohman, Founder of Slotmill said; “We’re delighted that Bethard has decided to add the Slotmill game portfolio. Bethard has has built a solid reputation and we are super happy over the partnership.”

Erik Skarp, CEO of Bethard commented; “Slotmill’s has become synonymous with innovation and premium content. Their games will be great addition to our offering and we are convinced that they will be well received by our players.”

Great News for Online Casino Lovers: Kalamba Games Is Coming to Sweden

November 17, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The iGaming slot provider, Kalamba Games, which is based in Krakow and Malta, will enter Sweden’s online casino market after getting permission and accreditation for numerous online slot products they have.

Many of their top-performing titles from the Joker series like Burning Diamonds, Atlantis Thunder, and Griffin’s Quest and others are ready to be distributed to various casino operators in Sweden since now Kalamba Games has a certification. Each of the nine online games has already been seen as highly popular by players all across Europe.

Since Kalamba has achieved success in countries such as Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and others from Latin America, they are planning an expansion also in the USA and the UK. In Latin America and Spain, they made expansion through Emara Play, in Italy, Croatia, and Portugal through BLOX, and last but not least, through SKS365 Group in the Netherlands.

Kalamba, as one of the world’s leading B2B online casino game providers, achieved great success this month by receiving the wanted MGA license. The newest video slot game is titled Lady Lava, which offers many extra spins and impressive bonuses, and also has a progressive jackpot. And that is not all; it has a wild multiplier feature that has an increasing value when a gambling player gathers more K-Cash Spins or K-Cash.

What is even more impressive is that as part of the K-Cash series, this online slot can return prizes of up to 3,793 times the bet, and with the HyperBonus function, there is an incredible 96.86% RTP.

Believe it or not, there are more than 400 online casino operators that use Kalamba’s Bullseye RGS platform. And since the Joker series is top-rated, in December, there will be another sequel named X-Mas edition, so the players that love this series will be more than happy to play another edition.

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Red Bull teams up with BLAST for CS:GO Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki

November 12, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Red Bull Flick, the premier 2v2 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, has announced a partnership with BLAST, the global esports media network, for the November pro-am Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki. The culmination of the 2021 circuit, the event will give the best amateur duos from over 30 countries the chance to face CS:GO legends in an epic LAN event, complemented by an unforgettable live experience for fans at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center.

BLAST will support the global finale of Red Bull Flick as the official production partner, bringing their experience in producing top tier CS:GO events alongside Red Bull’s traditional flair and atmosphere. BLAST will produce both the physical event at the Helsinki Messukeskus and the online broadcast. Information on tickets for the event is available here.

Red Bull Flick is an amateur 2v2 CS:GO tournament, with this year’s circuit beginning in April and seeing competitors from over 30 countries take part. A unique alternative to the traditional 5v5 CS:GO format, amateur duos from across the world have fought for their chance to compete against their idols, some of the world’s best CS:GO pros, at the Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki.

Red Bull Flick launched in 2019 with a local event in Turkey, but was taken to a new level in 2020 and 2021 through a futuristic narrative and eight custom maps, five unique to the tournament and three more specially designed for the playoffs. Some local LAN finals, such as in the UK, have brought this theme to the physical world as the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London, was transformed into a set inspired by the in-game Red Bull Flick maps.

This year, each participating country has produced a champion duo who will compete for a chance to face professional talent at the Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki. The closed qualifier will narrow down the final competitors to eight of the best amateur duos in the world. Six of the world’s leading CS:GO organisations will make up the invited teams, including: G2, Ence, OG, BIG Academy, Team Spirit and Furia.

Leo Matlock, VP of Commercial at BLAST, said: “Red Bull are a hugely prestigious brand with a great history within esports and we’re delighted to work with them and help elevate their Red Bull Invitational Helsinki event in November. Bringing the BLAST approach to production, content creation and technology – we feel we can raise the bar when it comes to the event’s viewer experience. We have a strong track record in organising leading Counter-Strike events all around the world and look forward to leveraging this knowledge to deliver another exciting format for the community to enjoy.”

finland:-eurosport-fined-e800,000-for-gambling-ads

Finland: Eurosport Fined €800,000 for Gambling Ads

October 16, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The National Police Board (NPB) has imposed a conditional fine of EUR 800,000 on an international broadcaster Eurosport 1 television channel recently for marketing of gambling services in Finland.

Earlier, on 16 September, the NPB prohibited Eurosport SAS (Eurosport) from marketing gambling services in Mainland Finland.

The prohibition remains valid for a period of three months and shall apply from 30 days after the date of service of the decision, unless otherwise directed by the appeal authority.

The NPB has detected that the marketing of gambling services has occurred regularly, extensively and for several years in the Eurosport 1. Gambling services have been marketed in advertisements during commercial breaks in television broadcasting.

“The supervision process in accordance with our legislation gives companies the opportunity to alter their operations and have their views heard,” said Anna-Emilia Sirén, Senior Adviser, Gambling Administration at the NPB.

Despite a number of exhortations, Eurosport has, however, continued the marketing that is considered unlawful by the authority.

Before imposing the marketing ban, the NPB has issued a statement to the company about the marketing of gambling and informed the company of the fact that only Veikkaus holds the exclusive right to market gambling services in Mainland Finland.

In its statement, the NPB, among other things, said that the marketing of gambling services on the channel violates Finland’s national legislation, regardless of the marketing being carried out from outside the Finnish borders.

Eurosport has not provided a response to the statement issued by the National Police Board in March 2021.

“The starting point for supervision is that the full range of methods, from the lenient to the strict, are used,” Sirén said, adding, “as an authority, we take the other party’s views into account, but if necessary, we prohibit the activity that we consider unlawful.”

With TV broadcasters in particular, there has been disagreement about the impact of EU law on the illegality of activities. The NPB has taken measures not only against Eurosport, but two other international TV broadcasters as well.

Hacksaw Gaming enters the Danish Market!

October 9, 2021 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Malta-based online game provider, Hacksaw Gaming is showing no signs of slowing down after their rapid growth in the past 12 months. The company has announced they will be launching their portfolio of games in Denmark as the next step in their European market expansion strategy.

Hacksaw Gaming has their portfolio already certified across several European regions including the UK, Sweden and Latvia and is to launch its content in Denmark starting off with 25SYV on Bet25.DK and Casinogo.DK which has been made possible via Hacksaws recent Scientific Digital OGS platform agreement.

Operators will be able to access hit games such as Chaos Crew, Stack ‘em and their most recent release Wanted Dead or a Wild within the coming weeks across multiple platforms.

Marcus Cordes, COO at Hacksaw Gaming said, “We have lots of existing clients already operating in the Danish market, so it was a natural step for us to be able to offer our content in Denmark and we look forward to seeing how this market performs for us over the coming months.’

Tag: Scandinavia

Spillemyndigheden: More Than 30,000 Danes Self-excluded from Gambling Since 2012

How Finland Became an Online Gambling Powerhouse

1. Variety of Options

2. Change In Ethos

3. An Adaptable Market

4. Technological Advancement

5. Diverse Market

6. Active Encouragement

7. Moving Online

8. Outside Interest

9. The Country’s Love for Gaming

The Job Ahead

DGA: Order and action brought against Unibet (Denmark) Limited for breach of the Anti-Money Laundering Act

Unibet and SEF to Offer Safer Gambling Training Courses

Swintt’s Golden Reindeer spreads the holiday cheer in two new markets

Slotmill concludes agreement with Bethard

Great News for Online Casino Lovers: Kalamba Games Is Coming to Sweden

Red Bull teams up with BLAST for CS:GO Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki

Finland: Eurosport Fined €800,000 for Gambling Ads

Hacksaw Gaming enters the Danish Market!

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