Latest News
The Finnish Supreme Administrative Court rules that skill-based fantasy sports games belong to Veikkaus monopoly
Article written by Antti Koivula, consulting legal advisor at Legal Gaming
On May 24, 2022 the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court delivered its judgment on IS-Liigapörssi-case (KHO:2022:60), in which the Supreme Administrative Court analysed whether skill-based fantasy sports games are within the scope of the Finnish Lotteries Act (1047/2001) (“Lotteries Act”) and thus belong to the state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus Oy’s (“Veikkaus”) monopoly.
Finland has a statutory gambling monopoly in place, under which Veikkaus has exclusive rights to operate and market gambling. According to the Lotteries Act, all games which include a participation fee, prizes of monetary value and the result is based on chance, are within Veikkaus monopoly. The main question in the case was if it is enough the game to be even remotely based on chance to be within the scope of the Lotteries Act and thus belong to Veikkaus monopoly, and if that was the case, whether the element of chance was present in the skill-based fantasy sports games in question.
IS-Liigapörssi-case concerned popular fantasy sports games in Finland, in which participants form virtual ice hockey teams from real ice hockey players and points were awarded based on the ice hockey players performance on real ice hockey matches. The fantasy sports games included entry fees and prizes and they had been run since 1995 by a Finnish media giant Sanoma Media Finland Oy (“Sanoma”). It was an undeniable fact that skilled and analytical participants who invested a considerable amount of time to the fantasy sports games outperformed participants who picked the players randomly.
The background of the case is lengthy, as the national authorities had tried to shut down the fantasy sports games run by Sanoma for more than a decade. In 2008 the Ministry of the Interior made a request for investigation for the police, which carried out a preliminary investigation. However, in 2010 the National Prosecution Authority (“NPA”) made a non-prosecution decision stating that it was left unresolved whether the Fantasy Sports games in question are within the scope of the Lotteries Act.
In 2017 the gambling enforcement authority, the National Police Board (“NPB”) started administrative proceedings against Sanoma regarding the fantasy sports games and two years later in 2019 the process had reached the point in which the NPB imposed a prohibition order and a conditional fine of EUR 300,000 for Sanoma on the basis that Sanoma was not allowed to run the fantasy sports games as they qualified as gambling. Sanoma appealed to the Helsinki Administrative Court arguing that the fantasy sports games in question were skill-games with which chance had no effect on the results and thus outside the scope of the Lotteries Act, but in 2021 the Helsinki Administrative Court ruled in favour of the NPB. Sanoma appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court.
The Supreme Administrative Court acknowledged that participants knowledge and skills were meaningful in the context of success, but reminded that at the same time random factors outside the participant’s control had a significant importance too. Thus, the chance of winning was at least partially based on luck. As the fantasy sports games also included entry fees and prize money, only Veikkaus was allowed to run them in Finland.
The Supreme Administrative Court’s decision hardly came as a surprise. The Lotteries Act’s definition of gambling is extremely broad, from which a good example is that even an ice fishing competition and an auction were previously deemed to fall within it. Nevertheless, the decision yet further strengthened the NPB’s authority and it remains to be seen what is the next competition or event after which they’ll go next.
Latest News
QTech Games adds more creative content from BEON
Reading Time: 2 minutes
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator across all emerging markets, has continued to maintain the momentum in its premium pipeline, as evidenced by its latest deal with BEON, an emerging force in the slots space, whose first raft of games is crash games-focussed.
Integrating a progressive portfolio from one of the most productive and innovative developers in the sector adds more muscle to QTech Games’ proprietary platform, which is leading the way across growth markets like LatAm and Africa. In a progressive production line that will span different slots genres, BEON is also committed to launching games tailored to specific partner requests, while simultaneously growing its portfolio with a new wave of titles in development.
As a result BEON is building a reputation for creating high-quality, immersive games with standout features that set them apart in any igaming domain, thanks to a smooth performance running off agile mechanics which are dedicated to gameplay precision and optimal retention. Its first five games to be released comprise Skydot, Fury Flight, Redy, Nomad and Orizon, while BEON’s unique Crash Game Generator tool allows operator partners to launch customised content inside 24 hours.
This collaboration delivers a targeted range of localized content, enabling QTech Games to continue to meet the varied preferences of players across emerging markets, while supporting both companies’ ambitions for global growth.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “BEON’s initial rollout of eye-catching crash games is premised on clever mechanics, easily intelligible gameplay, high payouts and colourful graphics, which are breaking up an often-copycat environment. This kind of content is well-suited to LatAm and African markets, which directly tracks our ongoing expansion throughout these territories. These games are robust, scalable, and future-ready – so, we look forward to seeing what’s next. ”
Saba Chkheidze, Managing Partner at BEON, added: “Partnering with QTech Games constitutes the perfect opportunity for us to bolster our product distribution across emerging markets and deliver our fantastic crash games to more and more top-tier operators.
“It’s a collaboration which marks a step-change in BEON’s growth strategy across untapped markets like Latin America and Africa, where we hope our games will connect with many new players. Aside from crash games, our roadmap is packed with fresh concepts and slots titles that aim to combine engaging gameplay with solid technical performance, ensuring that our partners and players always have something new to look forward to.”
The post QTech Games adds more creative content from BEON appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
GR8 Tech Brings Behind The Gloves Boxing Experience to SiGMA Central Europe 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes
GR8 Tech is adding a knockout dimension to its SiGMA Central Europe presence with Behind the Gloves. On November 3–6 in Rome, booth 5028-2 visitors can take up a challenge and train like a champion with Lee McFarland, iGaming veteran and founder of the Behind The Glove initiative.
Step Into the Ring
Each day at GR8 Tech’s booth 5028-2, Lee McFarland will lead 15-minute boxing training sessions on specialized pads, giving participants a taste of the discipline, focus, and resilience that define both elite athletes and elite operators. Sessions run:
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning knockout slot
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Afternoon power rounds
With a limited capacity of 12 slots per day, pre-registration is required at this LINK. Slots are available for individuals or pairs looking to share the experience.
Champions Train Together
The collaboration between GR8 Tech and Behind the Gloves is a natural fit. Lee McFarland, a British military veteran turned iGaming consultant, created the initiative to combine boxing with corporate wellness and social responsibility, proving that strong businesses are built on strong people and stronger communities.
“At Behind The Gloves, we’ve always believed in the power of sport to connect people, energize communities, and tell authentic stories. Partnering with GR8 Tech at SiGMA Central Europe is a natural fit; they’re known as the ‘heavyweight of iGaming,’ and our activations are built around that same spirit of strength, discipline, and drive. Together, we’re creating more than just a stand experience—we’re building a moment that unites delegates through energy, fun, and purpose”, said Lee McFarland.
The activation reinforces GR8 Tech’s Platform for Champions positioning and the elite Heavyweight Club community of operators who are ready to lead, not follow. The company’s boxing-themed booth and partnership with Ready to Fight by Oleksandr Usyk embody the same champion’s mindset: resilience, high performance, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
“Champions don’t talk about performance—they live it,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. “Bringing Behind The Gloves to our booth embodies the discipline and drive we build into our technology. If you want to compete at the highest level, you have to train like it.”
Where Business Meets the Ring
The Behind The Gloves sessions complement GR8 Tech’s showcase of the ULTIM8 Sportsbook and The Heavyweight Rulebook—a collection of Champions’ Rules gathered from iGaming’s top performers. Together, they create an immersive experience where attendees don’t just learn about championship-level technology—they feel first-hand what it takes to be a champion.
Visit GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2, SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6.
The post GR8 Tech Brings Behind The Gloves Boxing Experience to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Fairspin Receives Nomination for “Best Crypto Casino 2025”
The blockchain gaming pioneer Fairspin has been shortlisted for “Best Crypto Casino 2025” at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards.
This latest nomination follows Fairspin’s earlier victory at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025, where it earned the title “Crypto Casino of the Year.” Together, these honors confirm Fairspin’s reputation as a brand that delivers not just innovation but real value for every player — enjoy speed, transparency, and rewards at every step!
Millions of Spins. One Trusted Brand
Fairspin is where the future of online gaming unfolds. Built on the principles of trust and loyalty, this casino offers an experience unlike any other. It’s where players get more than just luck: instant cashouts, transparent gameplay, and real rewards that grow with every spin.
Fairspin earns trust the only way that matters — through proof. Every bet, win, and TFS reward is verified on-chain, setting the standard for integrity in modern gaming.
Fairspin continues to expand its VIP program, offering tailored features as part of its broader crypto gaming platform.
Redefining Fair Play with Blockchain Technology
For those who know value, Fairspin delivers it without compromise. With over 10,000 premium titles from the world’s top studios, the platform seamlessly blends entertainment and technology to create an elite gaming experience.
Powered by its native TFS token, Fairspin rewards loyalty through Play to Earn and Hold to Earn — programs designed for those who play smartly and stay consistent. The more you play, the greater your benefits.
What Sets Fairspin Apart:
- Transparency & Real Rewards: Every bet is recorded on the blockchain and pays back in TFS tokens — stake them for risk-free passive income or exchange for exclusive bonuses and rewards.
- CopyStake Revolution: Ability to mirror the strategies of top winners in a single click. CopyStake turns expert-level play into effortless success.
- Life-Changing Wins: Fairspin has become a hotspot for headline-making wins, like a $4.2 million payout in Rio Games by 3 Oaks Gaming, all verified on-chain.
Crypto Freedom
With over 30 supported cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDT, and BNB, Fairspin ensures instant cashouts and total control — no borders, no delays.
The SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards celebrate innovation and excellence across the online gaming industry. Fairspin’s nomination further strengthens its reputation as one of the most forward-thinking brands shaping the future of crypto gaming.
About Fairspin
Fairspin Casino delivers a next-generation gaming experience powered by blockchain technology. With provably fair gameplay, a selection of over 10,000 top-quality titles, and an advanced token-based reward system, Fairspin merges trust, innovation, and entertainment, setting a new benchmark for modern online casinos.
Contact
TFS PR
TFS
Fairspin
-
Latest News3 months ago
Light & Wonder to Participate in the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo
-
Latest News3 months ago
ReferOn Shortlisted for Acquisition & Retention Partner of the Year at SBC Lisbon 2025
-
Latest News3 months ago
Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion
-
Latest News2 months ago
Duels for Friends in Trophy Hunter. Invite your friends and create a shared space for fun and competition.
-
Latest News2 months ago
BC.GAME Launches “Nezha” Slot with Up to 46,656 Ways to Win and 10,000x Max Payout
-
Latest News1 month ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News2 months ago
NODWIN Gaming Acquires Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Stake in Evo; Becomes Majority Holder
-
Latest News2 months ago
Flamez – A Fiery New Online Casino Contender from Ganadu




You must be logged in to post a comment Login