It was only yesterday that we reported on a new partnership between the mighty Yggdrasil and Veikkaus, and today we are about to expand on the topic. Namely, following in the footsteps of the Norse World Tree iGaming giant is NetEnt, which has also announced it has signed a license agreement with Finland’s state-owned gaming operator, Veikkaus.
Commercial Launch Expected in the First Half of 2019
Once all technical integrations have been finalized, NetEnt’s games will become accessible through Veikkaus’ online casino. The expected commercial launch is forecast for the first half of 2019, with the titles to remain available through 2023. The revenue for NetEnt for the four-year period is assessed at anywhere between €5m and €9m.
Henrik Fagerlund, MD NetEnt Malta and Chief Product Officer of NetEnt, comments:
“We are very proud to enter this collaboration with Finland’s largest gaming operator Veikkaus. The deal is an important milestone for our presence on the Finnish market and I am convinced that our thrilling games will be much appreciated by Veikkaus’ players.”
The other party is no less excited. Veikkaus Vice President for Casino Games, Jan Hagelberg, has said on the deal:
“We are delighted to partner with NetEnt, known for its iconic games and innovative gaming solutions. NetEnt’s games have been proven to perform well and are constantly asked by our loyal customers. We are excited to be able to offer them soon in our online casino.”
Veikkaus in Superlativeland
Veikkaus is Finland’s single most important gaming agency, being the largest, the only official, and the only regulated one. On top of that, it also happens to be one of the country’s biggest earners (the 2017 turnover stands at ca. €3.2m). The agency is owned by the Finnish government, managed by the Finnish Ministry of Education, and holds an exclusive license on sports betting and lotteries in the country.
It came into existence when the previous three operators (Fintoto, The Slot Machine Association (RAY), and Veikkaus) merged in 2017, following the country’s reform of the gaming system. The newly-introduced system is rooted in the exclusive right principle, which emphasizes responsible gaming and mitigates gambling-related risks (such as are frauds and addiction). As the term “exclusive” may be expected to portend, the principle also stipulates that Veikkaus is Finland’s single operator of all gambling games. The country recognizes three legal game types: slots, games of luck, skill games, and instant games.
Veikkaus has more than 2 million customers, while its online casino (the largest in Finland) attracts up to 700,000 players per week.
NetEnt in a Nutshell
As for NetEnt… is there anything more to add that anyone doesn’t know already? The company has been around for what seems like ages, has a range or award-winning slots everyone recognizes at a glance, and is an omnipresent iGaming entity.
It was established in 1996 with Cherry and Kinnevik, both of which injected €75m into what will become one of the leading industry names. Today, the business develops its own unique in-house products, available in more than 300 online casinos worldwide.
Source:
“NetEnt Signs Online Casino Supplier Agreement with Finland’s National Gaming Operator Veikkaus”, netent.com, October 22, 2018.
