RAY, the Finnish Slot Machine Association, has selected the Central Deck and Arena project in the southern city of Tampere as the location for the second casino in Finland. The €550m project announced earlier this year is being developed by local property developer SRV and will include diverse restaurant, accommodation and entertainment services.
Tampere Arena“This is great news for SRV, and we are delighted that RAY selected our multifunctional arena as the location for their new game and event centre,” remarked Timo Nieminen, SRV Executive Vice President. “We will be proud to continue promoting this unique project, which – if realised – means that Tampere will have a completely new district.”
Several locations were considered for the Scandinavian country’s second casino license but RAY indicated that the combination of tourists and locals in Tampere as well as good transport connections would draw enough customers to make the facility profitable. SRV was selected in February 2016 to develop the project with plans for it to connect the eastern and western parts of Tampere. Negotiations have been ongoing during the year on the financing of the project and investor cooperation.
In addition to the casino, which will be the nation’s second in addition to Casino Helsinki, plans for the new 1.29 million sq ft development also include the largest sports and event arena in Finland. The complex would form a new hybrid block, combining a multifunctional arena, offices and apartments.
The first phase includes covering the southern railway yard with a deck, on which the event arena, two tower buildings and a training hall will be built. The second phase includes the building of a northern deck and three tower buildings. The entire site will include a total of 120,000 sqm and over a 1,000 apartments. The aim is to begin construction work of the southern deck and the event arena in spring 2017. According to the estimated schedule, the first phase will be completed in the summer of 2020, and the whole area in 2023.
Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
October 19, 2016
February 05, 2016
PartyPoker to return to 21 online gambling markets under GVC
PartyPoker returns to 21 new online gambling markets including jurisdictions it exited as part of its “volume to value” strategy.
PartyPoker has begun operating in a number of new national markets after GVC Holdings completed its deal to buy bwin.party.
Bwin’s online poker room has written to affiliates asking them to estimate the number of first time depositors they anticipate in each market.
New sign-ups from 18 countries in EU and South America served by bwin.Party were blocked in April 2013. The decision was likely a mix of regulatory concern and simple cost analysis. The remaining countries may represent markets either too small or simply unprofitable for bwin.party to maintain operations in.
Many EU countries on the list curbed or prohibited online poker such as Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Hungary. Finland and Serbia, on the other hand, had a small regulated online poker markets.
South American countries — Argentina, Brazil and Colombia — were also blocked same with three former Soviet Republics Armenia, Belarus and the Ukraine.
Many of the markets that PartyPoker is re-entering are expected to introduce online poker licensing systems such as Colombia, which opened a consultation on launching a regulated online gambling market. Brazil has approved a legislative attempt to legalize online sports betting, casino and bingo games last year.
Bwin.party group head of partypoker and Cashcade Tom Waters confirmed the news to EGR, saying that it had re-opened in a “limited number of regulated territories” following a “thorough review” of PartyPoker’s operations.
“Along with other operators in the industry, we do accept gameplay from customers based in yet to be regulated territories where customers are not prevented from accessing online gaming products,” said Waters. “We have re-opened registration for a number of markets and could potentially look to do more if the commercials support it.”
PartyPoker has begun operating in a number of new national markets after GVC Holdings completed its deal to buy bwin.party.
Bwin’s online poker room has written to affiliates asking them to estimate the number of first time depositors they anticipate in each market.
New sign-ups from 18 countries in EU and South America served by bwin.Party were blocked in April 2013. The decision was likely a mix of regulatory concern and simple cost analysis. The remaining countries may represent markets either too small or simply unprofitable for bwin.party to maintain operations in.
Many EU countries on the list curbed or prohibited online poker such as Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Hungary. Finland and Serbia, on the other hand, had a small regulated online poker markets.
South American countries — Argentina, Brazil and Colombia — were also blocked same with three former Soviet Republics Armenia, Belarus and the Ukraine.
Many of the markets that PartyPoker is re-entering are expected to introduce online poker licensing systems such as Colombia, which opened a consultation on launching a regulated online gambling market. Brazil has approved a legislative attempt to legalize online sports betting, casino and bingo games last year.
Bwin.party group head of partypoker and Cashcade Tom Waters confirmed the news to EGR, saying that it had re-opened in a “limited number of regulated territories” following a “thorough review” of PartyPoker’s operations.
“Along with other operators in the industry, we do accept gameplay from customers based in yet to be regulated territories where customers are not prevented from accessing online gaming products,” said Waters. “We have re-opened registration for a number of markets and could potentially look to do more if the commercials support it.”
May 20, 2010
Finland's new monopoly signs up Playtech for casino and poker
Playtech has won a supply deal with Finland’s new online casino and poker monopoly, Rahaautomaattiyhdistys (RAY).
RAY, Finland's Slot Machine Association, was in February cleared by parliament to launch online casino and poker, with Finnish state lottery Veikkaus Oy simultaneously approved to offer online bingo.
Under the terms of the four year contract, which was awarded after a tender process, RAY will launch online casino and poker using Playtech's technology platform, with poker played on an exclusive Finnish network. The online offering, planned to launch in the third quarter of this year, will also include a mobile capability.
Playtech chief executive Mor Weizer said: "By establishing a domestic online offering, RAY will be furthering its philosophy of responsible and trustworthy gaming. The unique player management tools we can provide will ensure a secure and safe operating environment in line with RAY's core values."
Finland’s monopolies have widespread support in that country, where they are often seen as more accountable than private operators, and with profit directed into state coffers rather than private hands.
Speaking at a public conference on Finland’s new gaming laws in Helsinki in February, RAY spokeswoman Tuula Lehto said that the purpose of the company’s new online business is to provide a "national, reliable and responsible alternative for Finnish players".
Founded in 1938, RAY currently has circa 19,000 slot machines in roughly 8,400 locations across Finland, together with 300 club-based casino games, and also operates Finland's only casino, the Grand Casino Helsinki. Its 2009 revenue totalled €651m.
As well as RAY and Veikkaus Oy, Finland’s other gambling monopoly is Fintoto, which offers racing betting, while Finland’s semi-autonomous Åland islands also have a gambling monopoly, Ålands Penningautomatförening, or Paf, which launched an online sports betting arm with Unibet in February.
RAY, Finland's Slot Machine Association, was in February cleared by parliament to launch online casino and poker, with Finnish state lottery Veikkaus Oy simultaneously approved to offer online bingo.
Under the terms of the four year contract, which was awarded after a tender process, RAY will launch online casino and poker using Playtech's technology platform, with poker played on an exclusive Finnish network. The online offering, planned to launch in the third quarter of this year, will also include a mobile capability.
Playtech chief executive Mor Weizer said: "By establishing a domestic online offering, RAY will be furthering its philosophy of responsible and trustworthy gaming. The unique player management tools we can provide will ensure a secure and safe operating environment in line with RAY's core values."
Finland’s monopolies have widespread support in that country, where they are often seen as more accountable than private operators, and with profit directed into state coffers rather than private hands.
Speaking at a public conference on Finland’s new gaming laws in Helsinki in February, RAY spokeswoman Tuula Lehto said that the purpose of the company’s new online business is to provide a "national, reliable and responsible alternative for Finnish players".
Founded in 1938, RAY currently has circa 19,000 slot machines in roughly 8,400 locations across Finland, together with 300 club-based casino games, and also operates Finland's only casino, the Grand Casino Helsinki. Its 2009 revenue totalled €651m.
As well as RAY and Veikkaus Oy, Finland’s other gambling monopoly is Fintoto, which offers racing betting, while Finland’s semi-autonomous Åland islands also have a gambling monopoly, Ålands Penningautomatförening, or Paf, which launched an online sports betting arm with Unibet in February.
February 19, 2010
Parliament egaming summit sees Unibet square off against Finnish monopolies
Finland's regulators and monopolies held a public meeting this week to debate new online gambling rules that have strengthened the hand of Finland’s state monopolies by allowing them to offer online poker, casino games and bingo, with Unibet the only operator invited to defend liberalisation.
At a summit at the Finnish Parliament’s Visitor's Centre in Helsinki moderated by Jyrki Kasvi, chairman of the Finnish parliament’s Information Society Group and a member of the Green Party, authorities and state operators sought to explain a new licence system. This will allow Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY) and Finnish state lottery Veikkaus Oy to start offering online poker and casino games and online bingo respectively. The Lotteries Act Project could also include a ban on all gambling marketing in Finland.
Together with Fintoto, which offers horseracing betting, RAY and Veikkaus Oy are the only legal online operators in mainland Finland, but have been allowed to offer the new products in order to compete with private operators.
The meeting was also attended by Christophe Dhaisne, head of Western Europe at Unibet, which this week launched a business to business arm and revealed it is to provide a sportsbook solution to Ålands Penningautomatförening, or Paf, Finland’s only other legal operator, which is based on the country’s semi-autonomous Åland islands.
Speaking for RAY, spokeswoman Tuula Lehto said that the purpose of the company’s new online products is to provide a "national, reliable and responsible alternative for Finnish players". Dhaisne, by contrast, argued the merits of a liberalised market over the current monopoly system, which has survived a number of legal challenges on the basis that it better protects citizens from problem gambling.
Dhaisne said: “We believe that Finland’s actions are contradicting Article 49... the group that is pushing the new law has not even considered alternatives to the current regime, even though that is what is happening in Italy, France, Denmark Estonia… why that is, we don’t know.”
Unibet was the only private operator in attendance.
The Ministry of the Interior’s director of legislative affairs, Kimmo Hakonen, the minister leading the Lotteries Act Project responsible for the new rules, defended the monopoly status quo, arguing that it only clarifies earlier Finnish gambling legislation which is “equipment neutral," meaning that it applies as much to online gambling as land-based.
Also appearing were Mia-Veera Koivisto, project coordinator of problem gambling group A-Clinic Foundation; Paf product development manager Sonja Kangas; and the Åland Islands minister responsible for gaming issues, Roger Eriksson.
At a summit at the Finnish Parliament’s Visitor's Centre in Helsinki moderated by Jyrki Kasvi, chairman of the Finnish parliament’s Information Society Group and a member of the Green Party, authorities and state operators sought to explain a new licence system. This will allow Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY) and Finnish state lottery Veikkaus Oy to start offering online poker and casino games and online bingo respectively. The Lotteries Act Project could also include a ban on all gambling marketing in Finland.
Together with Fintoto, which offers horseracing betting, RAY and Veikkaus Oy are the only legal online operators in mainland Finland, but have been allowed to offer the new products in order to compete with private operators.
The meeting was also attended by Christophe Dhaisne, head of Western Europe at Unibet, which this week launched a business to business arm and revealed it is to provide a sportsbook solution to Ålands Penningautomatförening, or Paf, Finland’s only other legal operator, which is based on the country’s semi-autonomous Åland islands.
Speaking for RAY, spokeswoman Tuula Lehto said that the purpose of the company’s new online products is to provide a "national, reliable and responsible alternative for Finnish players". Dhaisne, by contrast, argued the merits of a liberalised market over the current monopoly system, which has survived a number of legal challenges on the basis that it better protects citizens from problem gambling.
Dhaisne said: “We believe that Finland’s actions are contradicting Article 49... the group that is pushing the new law has not even considered alternatives to the current regime, even though that is what is happening in Italy, France, Denmark Estonia… why that is, we don’t know.”
Unibet was the only private operator in attendance.
The Ministry of the Interior’s director of legislative affairs, Kimmo Hakonen, the minister leading the Lotteries Act Project responsible for the new rules, defended the monopoly status quo, arguing that it only clarifies earlier Finnish gambling legislation which is “equipment neutral," meaning that it applies as much to online gambling as land-based.
Also appearing were Mia-Veera Koivisto, project coordinator of problem gambling group A-Clinic Foundation; Paf product development manager Sonja Kangas; and the Åland Islands minister responsible for gaming issues, Roger Eriksson.
February 10, 2010
Finland gets fussy about online poker adverts
Finland has a government-endorsed national gambling monopoly. All legal gambling in the country falls under the control of either RAY (Slot Machine Association), Veikkaus (mainly lotteries and sports betting), or Fintoto (totalisator). Any gambling services in Finland which are not operated by one of these three groups are operating without a state license, and are illegal.
Advertising any gambling company other than these three state entities is also a violation of Finland’s Lottery Act. In recent weeks, the South Karelia District Court in Lappeenranta has been dealing with a case that revolves around unlawful gambling advertisements. The offender is the company that produces the Finnish newspaper Metropoli, which ran adverts for a foreign-based online poker sites in Finland.
The case sets a new precedence for the control of foreign operators, who have become more and more forceful with targeting Finnish players in recent months. This has frustrated the government to no end, since Finnish gambling laws cannot be upheld across international borders – this means that players are free to utilize foreign-hosted gambling sites, and that the Finnish government cannot do much about it. Now, there is at least some legal recourse the government can take against companies that try to challenge the Finnish gambling monopoly through local advertising.
Finland’s gambling monopoly is contentious. While the three state gambling groups pour a large percentage of their annual EUR 2.5 billion profits back into Finnish society, the fact that the government is actively trying to prevent foreign internet gambling sites from reaching Finnish players is often seen as a breach of EU trade laws.
The source of the problem appears to be the lack of legally licensed online gambling sites in Finland. The government seems to understand this, as they just gave RAY permission to launch actual online casino games as well as internet bingo and keno – the first of their kind in Finland. These new services are expected to launch in August 2010.
Advertising any gambling company other than these three state entities is also a violation of Finland’s Lottery Act. In recent weeks, the South Karelia District Court in Lappeenranta has been dealing with a case that revolves around unlawful gambling advertisements. The offender is the company that produces the Finnish newspaper Metropoli, which ran adverts for a foreign-based online poker sites in Finland.
The case sets a new precedence for the control of foreign operators, who have become more and more forceful with targeting Finnish players in recent months. This has frustrated the government to no end, since Finnish gambling laws cannot be upheld across international borders – this means that players are free to utilize foreign-hosted gambling sites, and that the Finnish government cannot do much about it. Now, there is at least some legal recourse the government can take against companies that try to challenge the Finnish gambling monopoly through local advertising.
Finland’s gambling monopoly is contentious. While the three state gambling groups pour a large percentage of their annual EUR 2.5 billion profits back into Finnish society, the fact that the government is actively trying to prevent foreign internet gambling sites from reaching Finnish players is often seen as a breach of EU trade laws.
The source of the problem appears to be the lack of legally licensed online gambling sites in Finland. The government seems to understand this, as they just gave RAY permission to launch actual online casino games as well as internet bingo and keno – the first of their kind in Finland. These new services are expected to launch in August 2010.
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