Playtech Confirms Snaitech Sale Talks with Flutter
Playtech has confirmed it is in negotiations with Flutter over the sale of its Snaitech business. Sky News reported on Aug. 14 that Flutter was in talks to buy Playtech’s Italian business in a deal worth approximately $2.6 billion.
Playtech said Flutter was carrying out due diligence on the business as a period of exclusivity was granted to finalize the required transaction documentation.
Playtech was rumored to be looking into a sale of Snaitech in 2022, but when its revenue tripled in H1 of that year the supplier halted its plans.
Snaitech has continued to perform well, with a leading market share in Italy. It achieved revenue of $1 billion in FY2023, a 5.2 percent year-on-year increase.
Finnish Govt. Stake in Veikkaus Could be Conflict of Interest
Finnish Gambling Consultants (FGC) partner Jari Vähänen believes the Finnish government should sell off its ownership of the Veikkaus monopoly, as it could have a significant competitive advantage over licensed operators once the online gambling market is open.
The Finnish government released draft regulations to legalize online gambling in June. It opened a consultation period requesting stakeholders’ feedback by Aug. 18.
The ministry of finance is to form a new regulator and Vähänen believes this dual role as operator and authority creates a conflict of interest. Vähänen also believes Veikkaus’ legacy player database and tech stack would give it an unfair advantage against licensed online competitors.
Dutch Gambling Regulator Orders Operators to Honor Payout Rules
Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has ordered operators to abide by payout rules after finding 13 failed to meet license requirements.
KSA said a recent investigation discovered that nine online operators were obstructing payouts to customers, with another four suspected of doing so. According to the Dutch Gambling Act, player payout requests must be actioned immediately and without conditions.
Breaches were discovered after the regulator reminded all operators in March 2024 as to their regulatory requirements. At the time, KSA outlined examples of conditions that a provider may not use, such as minimum payout amounts and wagering requirements before the provider pays back.
Underage Gambling Gown in Finland Since 2011 Age Limit Increase
A survey by the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) has revealed gambling among minors (aged 15 to 16 years old) dropped in Finland since it raised its age limit for slot machines from 15 to 18 years old in 2011.
Before the change to the Lotteries Act was made, 87 percent of males and 54 percent of the females surveyed had gambled on slot machines in their lifetime. That was reduced to 25 percent for males and 6 percent for females in 2024.
Across both genders, slots gambling was reduced from 24 percent in 2019 to 16 percent in 2024. The latest data also shows underage gambling in general dropped 56 percent between 2019 and 2024 from 34 percent to 15 percent of youths surveyed.
Online Slots Push Lithuania Gambling Revenue to $126.7M in H1
Gambling revenue in Lithuania increased 12.6 percent to $126.7 million in H1 with a strong online performance mitigating a decline in land-based revenue.
Figures from the Lithuania Gaming Control Authority show H1 revenue was clear of the $119.4 million reported in the same period last year.
Online revenue climbed 12.5 percent year-on-year to $79.5 million. Player spending increased by 8.7 percent to $1.6 billion, winning $1. billion in the process. Sports betting revenue edged up 1.6 percent to $21.3 million during H1, with player wagers up 2.4 percent to $318 million.
