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Finland Stops Anonymous Gambling

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In the gambling world, Finland is a peculiar and somewhat contradictory country. On the other hand, the government wants to restrict gambling as much as possible and at the same time, there are things that seem to be much looser than in many other parts of Europe and even the entire world.

If you have ever visited this beautiful country in the North, you might have spotted something very strange in the grocery stores, gas stations, and kiosks. As reported on our site earlier, there are slot machines everywhere! This is something that the majority of other Nordic countries, for instance, are not providing their citizens with.

Finland, even though its government and the monopolized gambling company Veikkaus are being criticized for having slot machines everywhere, is not taking them out. What the government is doing is stopping anonymous gambling that has been so far possible in these slot machines located in stores and gas stations.

What Will Actually Change?

According to the renowned Finnish Casino Portal, Laatukasinot, there are many changes coming. By the year 2023 the government of Finland, alongside Veikkaus, is planning to move all gambling-related actions for something that can be done only via identification. This has been the case already in the majority of European online casinos, and now also Veikkaus is seeing the relevance of doing so.

Starting from January 2021, Finnish players at stores, kiosks and gas stations have not had the opportunity to play without identification first. The identification is now mandatory. For that one needs a Veikkaus customership, a credit card related to the player account or a Veikkaus app.

 

Veikkaus itself estimates that having player identification at slot machines and all gambling-related services will reduce the amount of playing. On the other hand, nothing says this will have any effect on the players with serious gambling problems.

Also, when looking at the latest trends in the gambling industry, Finland’s decision to tie identification to player accounts and customership seems something that might be too little too late. Veikkaus now requires everyone to register and play with their ID cards, on another note online no account casinos are on the rise!

 

Other Plans the Finnish Government is Moving Forward With

Mandatory identification is not the only thing Finns are going to have to get used to. Indeed, there are other regulations for the Finnish gambling markets as well. The current government, led by prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP) is investigating whether it could in the future force payment blocks. This means that if the bill passes, the Finnish players would no longer be able to play online casinos outside of Finland.

There are already examples in Europe of these types of payment blocks. So far the results have in many cases not been what the governments have wished for. Gamblers are finding new ways to go around the blocks, and this might very well happen in Finland, also. iGaming professionals have already suggested that in the future Finnish players will most likely just start using e-wallets and foreign bank accounts.

 

With an experience of over 8 years in the online gambling industry, as an affiliate, later affiliate manager and consultant, I consider myself a veteran of the industry and can guarantee that you will be served with the most accurate information.

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Exclusive Q&A w/ Steven Paton, Commercial Director at Wise Gaming

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Could you describe the range of products and services that Wise Gaming offers? What makes them unique or appealing to potential clients?

Wise Gaming is the fastest-growing, Complete platform offering both White-Label & Turnkey Solutions. The Wise Gaming solutions are built from our team’s extensive experience: 15 years B2C and 10 years B2B. We know the importance of a truly modular approach, allowing our partner the ability to obtain our entire solution or individual components to enhance what they already have.

In what regions or markets does Wise Gaming primarily operate? Are there any plans for expansion into new territories?

Our focus has been on both the European & LatAm Continents. With enormous success in our B2C operations, we are relying on our extensive experience. We believe the balance between established & emerging markets brings both knowledge and the ability to learn and adapt, truly focusing on our partners needs without limitations.

2025 will be Wise Gaming’s year of expansion! 2024‘s goal is about building on our success in EU & LatAm whilst planning next years’ growth in both Africa & Asia.

What technologies does Wise Gaming employ to deliver its iGaming solutions? Can you highlight any proprietary technologies or platforms that differentiate your offerings?

From our 15 years of B2C success, we felt that we understood both the pleasure points and pain points that most operators face on a daily & weekly basis. Therefore, we build our Wise Gaming solutions with a customer-centric approach, How can we support our partners to support their customers. We diligently sourced the industry’s best-in-class providers for both our Sportsbook & Casino content, utilizing Enterprise software to provide the most robust offering in the iGaming industry.

Our dedicated in-house teams visualize, build and enhance our Proprietary systems for each of our Partner’s needs, making each of our partners brands Unique.

In what ways does Wise Gaming prioritise security and data protection within its technology infrastructure?

As previously mentioned, our customer-centric approach is vitally important to Wise Gaming and our Partners! Providing the correct technology and experience to our partners is key to having a successful KYC, AML, Due Diligence and Data Protection process. We opted for Amazon AWS solutioning to provide market-leading security, Encrypted databases & data storage, penetration resilience, DDoS attack elimination, dedicated Back-Office segmentation and User-based access, protecting player data while safeguarding our partners operations.

What are the current trends or challenges you’re seeing in the iGaming market? How is Wise Gaming adapting to these changes?

The speed in which technology advances is always a challenge for any provider. The key is to know your markets, the players, the accessibility of online entertainment such a sports betting & casinos and implement the technology that meets these variables. Everyone is talking about AI & Machine learning, and rightly so! With such advancements AI & Machine Learning models, it would be irresponsible not to utilize them. Whether it’s for Player customisation, Events based recommendation or supporting operational needs such as RG, KYC & AML, AI & machine Learning should be used to ENHANCE human interaction, not replace. At Wise Gaming, we have already implemented AI & Machine Learning models to provide the unique edge to our partners.

Also localized content is important. Every market is its own unique playground with their own specific cultural identities. Knowing these identities and becoming an expert in these will not only assist in the acquisition of players, it signifies a brand’s genuineness and authenticity to that market and allows greater player retention. At Wise Gaming we have already implemented A.I & Machine Learning models

How does Wise Gaming ensure compliance with regulations in various jurisdictions? How important is regulatory adherence in your sales approach?

I will answer these 2 questions together. The market is experiencing a shift in regulation, and compliance. MGA & CGA license domination has been challenged, with more and more markets opting for tighter safety measures and implementing their own self-regulated approach. This brings safety to players and trust.

Working alongside regulators will always help, and more importantly, we can learn from each other. Adhering to regulation is ultimately for a player’s safety and that is paramount for the industry’s longevity. Wise Gaming continuously enhances its platform to conform with regulations, making it safe and reliable for our partners.

What are the key factors potential clients considering when choosing an iGaming provider, and how does Wise Gaming address these factors in its offerings?

As previously mentioned, experience and knowledge are key attributes from both an operational and technical aspect. “You can’t plant apple trees and expect to get oranges!” Wise Gaming’s experience & knowledge puts us, and our partners, at the forefront of each market, allowing substantial growth and higher ROI.

Time to market should also be a priority. Whilst most Providers offer 2-4 months implementation time, Wise Gaming can deploy your platform within 2-4 weeks, giving us the competitive edge in a highly competitive space.

How does Wise Gaming incorporate feedback from clients into product development and improvement?

Experience and knowledge are simply 1’s learning over time. Our approach at Wise Gaming is that of a learning mentality, “you are never too old to learn!” iGaming is rich in experts – We trust our Partners, and they trust us, it’s the unification that builds long-term partnerships. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them in that order!

What are the future goals and plans for Wise Gaming? Any upcoming innovations or developments you can share?

Our goal is to continue providing a reliable and robust platform, listening and delivering an innovative and unique solution for each of our Partners.

Innovative Developments – If we tell everyone, they won’t be innovative 😉 However, what I can say is that we are focused on “advanced”, real-time localised AI recommended content both Casino & Sportsbook.

 

The post Exclusive Q&A w/ Steven Paton, Commercial Director at Wise Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ProgressPlay Shines Again as a Finalist in Multiple Categories in the 2024 EGR B2B Awards

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ProgressPlay, a leading innovator in online casino and sports betting platforms, proudly announces its selection as a finalist in multiple categories for the esteemed EGR B2B Awards. This recognition comes hot on the heels of Marina Nahhas, the Head of Sales and Marketing, being acknowledged as one of the Top 10 Inspiring Leaders in 2024 by Value Icons Magazine.

Last year, the company made significant advancements in responsible gambling with the introduction of new generation proprietary automation and tools, earning another EGR B2B Awards shortlisting this year in the Safer Gambling category.

Earlier this year, ProgressPlay garnered acclaim for its groundbreaking standalone solution and platform technology, earning a spot among the Top 10 Casino Tech Solutions Providers by CIO Applications Europe. The company has further expanded its sports betting offerings with the recent addition of United Kingdom and Irish horse racing to its platform.

At the heart of ProgressPlay’s recent success is its revolutionary standalone platform, which debuted at ICE in January. This platform empowers casino brands to take full control of their operations while ProgressPlay provides unparalleled technology support. With a focus on AI-driven UI/UX, the platform promises an exceptional user experience across all devices and currencies.

In addition to its extensive game library including slots, live dealer games, poker, table games and sports betting options, ProgressPlay offers value-added services to enrich the offerings for operators and players.

Commenting on the EGR Awards shortlisting, Nahhas remarked: “ProgressPlay is a leading provider of online casino and sports betting platforms, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the iGaming industry, which these EGR B2B shortlistings recognise once again. We will be at SiGMA Asia in Manila to communicate why over 150 online casino and sportsbook brands are already in partnership with us.”

“We are thrilled to be recognised once again by the EGR B2B Awards,” the Chief Executive Officer for ProgressPlay, Itai Loewenstein, said. “Our commitment to innovation and excellence drives us to continually enhance our platform and services, delivering unparalleled value to our partners and players alike and underwritten by the judges each year at the EGR B2B Awards.”

For further information visit www. ProgressPlay. com.

The post ProgressPlay Shines Again as a Finalist in Multiple Categories in the 2024 EGR B2B Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Conall McSorley Announced as New Head of Racing at SIS

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Experienced industry figure to oversee racing product portfolio

Sports Information Services (SIS), the leading multi-content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has announced the promotion of Conall McSorley (pictured) to Head of Racing.

In his new role, McSorley will be primarily responsible for SIS’ racing product proposition, shaping the strategy and direction across retail and digital channels. He will work with stakeholders globally to develop the best live racing offering for operators and end users while continuing to oversee SIS’ non-Americas international racing portfolio.

With over 20 years of experience holding several senior executive positions with betting operators and suppliers, McSorley will drive the continued development and delivery of the SIS racing offer that comprises a 24/7, end-to-end solution, presenting a regular flow of short-form betting opportunities to operators worldwide.

SIS carries over 35,000 horse races and more than 27,000 greyhound races annually, with action from over 170 tracks producing 8,760 hours of highly engaging betting content for global operators.

“Our 24/7 racing offering delivers great value to operators all over the world, so it is an honour to be handed the task of overseeing a product that drives revenues while being enjoyed by millions of people,” McSorley said. “We will continue striving to further develop our high-quality product, which offers a constant stream of regular betting opportunities.”

“Conall has shown in his time with SIS that he has the product knowledge and commercial acumen that will help us to continue leading the way in delivering top-class products to a growing number of partners,” the Chief Operating Officer for SIS, Andy Purkiss, said. “We’re excited to see him take on this new role and look forward to building on the strong momentum our racing offering has produced in recent months while adding value for our customers and rights partners.”

The post Conall McSorley Announced as New Head of Racing at SIS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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