Finland’s Veikkaus Gaming Monopoly Facing Mass Layoffs

Posted on: September 6, 2023, 06:46h. 

Last updated on: September 6, 2023, 07:53h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Finland’s Veikkaus gaming monopoly recently reported revenue of €519.3 million ($564.3 million) for the first half of the year, a 1% year-on-year increase. The improvement doesn’t come as good news for employees, though, as 240 – about one quarter – of the workforce will soon be out of a job.

The offices of Finland gaming monopoly Veikkaus
The offices of Finland gaming monopoly Veikkaus. It is preparing to lay off a quarter of its workforce, with more changes to come. (Image: Veikkaus)

Despite the increase in revenue, Veikkaus saw a drop in its operating profit in the first half of the year. It lost 6.2% from a year ago, falling to €310.2 million ($337.1 million). As opposed to most businesses, though, state-controlled Veikkaus doesn’t pay taxes on its profits.

The decline is a potential preview of what’s coming, and the gaming operator announced the layoffs via a press release on Tuesday. It added that another 195 employees face “significant changes” but didn’t specify what this meant. It only warned that the company’s 825 employees will experience an upheaval.

The restructuring comes as Veikkaus is about to enter a new operations phase. After finally admitting this past June that the monopoly is a failed model in the gaming industry, Finland is preparing to open up the market.

Finland Gaming Overhaul

In accordance with changes being considered by Finland’s government, part of the country’s gambling market will open at the beginning of 2026. This will eliminate Veikkaus’s monopoly and considerably change its role in the market.

In the future, part of Veikkaus’ online gaming business will be transferred to the international licensed gaming market. On the other hand, the lottery and physical slot operations are still intended to be kept under Veikkaus’ control.

The company will also likely reduce the number of its gaming halls from 65 to around 40–50. The change could also lead to the closure of its Casino Tampere.

The goal is an operating model that allows Veikkaus to focus on its core business. The changes coming to Veikkaus mean a new era in which the entire organization will be reviewed from the point of view of profitability and growth.

That review will have support from several new faces. Veikkaus also announced that it is onboarding new executive-level hires to prepare for the transition. Among these recruits are Jarkko Nordlund, Tuomo Puumala, Reija Laaksonen and Jonas Reuter. They all have a diverse background that spans everything from economics to gaming.

Future of Gaming

Exactly how the new online gaming model will look after 2026 is unclear, as details are still being finalized. However, the working theory is that several online casino and sports betting licenses may become available.

The future has already attracted a lot of interest from global gaming companies. Seven large companies offering online gambling have developed an organization to push for the introduction of a licensed gaming system in the Finnish market. Rahapeliala ry (Finnish for Gambling Association) was founded by the online gambling companies Betsson, ComeOn Group, Entain, Flutter, Kindred Group, LeoVegas and William Hill.

Finnish studies determined that over half of the iGaming activity occurred through offshore sites. As a result, these operators could receive significant income without license fees, taxes, or adequate responsible gaming controls.