Finland's Slot Machine Association
The Final Word about Slot Machine Manufacturers. The brand names in the slot machine manufacturers category are many, but, of course, IGT (International Game Technology) towers above the rest like Walmart towers over other retail establishments. The list above gets longer when you account for the companies making online slot machine games, too. Until December 2016, Finland had a three-way monopoly system (Veikkaus, Finland’s Slot Machine Association FSMA and Fintoto) in which each game provider had the right to offer gambling services. In 2017, these service operators were merged into a single company. Nitor Creations, a provider of business-driven software solutions, has entered into a frame agreement with Finland's Slot Machine Association (RAY). The contract period for the agreement is four years and it became into effect in September 2013. The contract scope consists of the services for designing and implementing RAY's backend systems and deploying them into production use.
Suomen Moniääniset Ry is a national association for people who hear voices. It is an established network, which will be celebrating it’s 20th anniversary in 2016! It is formed of a network of groups across the whole of Finland, offers a telephone peer support services and publishes quarterly newsletters. The basis for all of its activities is the expertise founded on experience.
Activities
- supports and brings together voice hearers and their relatives
- collects and spreads information about hearing voices
- offers and develops peer support
- organises events and education
- promotes research on the branch
- projects: Spreading information about hearing voices 2004 – 2007 and Supporting families of voice hearers 2008 – 2010
The association is funded by Finland’s Slot Machine Association (RAY), Finnish Central Association for Mental Health and the town of Helsinki. It is a member of Finnish Central Association for Mental Health and Intervoice
Contact Us
Suomen Moniääniset ry
Ratakatu 9
00120 Helsinki
040-830 9663
toimisto(at)moniaaniset.fi
www.moniaaniset.fi
For peer support by telephone:
Annikka, 050- 540 6185, Mondays on odd weeks from 4 pm to 8 pm
Airi, 040-705 9653, Thursdays on even weeks from 3 pm to 7 pm
Find A Group
Groups of voice hearers assemble regularly around Finland. Some of the groups are led by a professional and others by peer instructors.
In the groups people discuss hearing voices, getting along with them and different methods to cope with them and control them. Groups also try to relief difficult feelings such as fear and anxiety that can be caused by the voices.
If you are interested in participating a peer support group, starting a group or leading one, please contact the office of the association (040-830 9663).
Finland's Slot Machine Association Games
Also see: www.moniaaniset.fi/vertaisryhmat.html
News and Events
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Slot machines are a big part of life in Finland. They can be found in stores and restaurants as well as in recognized gambling houses. All of these machines are owned and regulated by Veikkaus, the state-owned gambling monopoly in the country.
The money from these machines goes towards helping state-funded projects. So, they are seen as a good thing by many people, although work has begun to encourage responsible gaming across the country. Lately, due to the pandemic, people in Finland have been unable to play land-based slot machines. They have been searching for uudet kasinot 2020 (new online casinos in the Finnish language) instead. Now, as restrictions are being lifted in the country, slot machines on the high street are coming back into use.
Slot machine network starting to return
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much with us, countries like Finland have the situation under control and are opening up more facilities.
This includes the opening up of some of the slot machine network. Around 8,000 slot machines have been switched back on, around the country. This is good news for people who have been waiting to play them since they were first turned off on March 13, to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, it also means that Veikkaus needs to continue with its efforts to promote responsible gambling.
Work to encourage responsible gambling
Veikkaus earns around two billion euros each year. The money helps to fund projects that are beneficial to communities within Finland. So, there are benefits to the country as a whole. However, Veikkaus still has a responsibility to try to prevent some of the issues that can result from gambling itself.
This is why the organization has already started to cut back on marketing and remove some of its slot machines. This work is set to continue now that the slot machine network is active again. The idea is to remove machines from areas of excessive use and leave a network of around 10,000 machines in place nationally.
Finland's Slot Machine Association Conference 2020
Another change that Veikkaus is introducing is the requirement for compulsory authentication on all slot machines. This will help to stop people from playing the machines on impulse. Players will also be able to set limits on their daily or monthly spending and machines will remind people that they are still playing every 15 minutes.
These reforms are all aimed at making sure that playing slot machines are a fun experience rather than one which causes problems. However, they could result in issues for Veikkaus.
Veikkaus’ revenues to be hit
The revenues made by Veikkaus are seen as a valuable asset by many people in Finland as they go towards funding state-backed projects. These revenues are around 550 million euros annually which is a considerable amount of money.
Finland's Slot Machine Association Of America
The COVID-19 related shutdown has already had a significant impact on the revenue possibilities for 2020. The measures taken to encourage responsible gambling could also have a negative impact on the amount of revenue that Veikkaus achieves.
In summary
Since March, slot machine enthusiasts in Finland have been deprived of access to the network of machines across the country. These Veikkaus operated machines are a valuable source of funding for community projects that are backed by the government.
So, there is some relief that the network of machines is now available again. However, this is only part of the story. Veikkaus is working to remove the opportunity for problem gambling to occur. This work involves removing some of the slot machines that are currently available in gambling houses, stores, and restaurants across the country.
The results of these changes could have an impact on the revenue achieved by Veikkaus. This revenue has already been severely impacted by the COVID-19 related shutdown. This is likely to mean that the funding secured through government-run Veikkaus will reduce.
It’s too early to say what the overall impact of the shutdown, and ongoing changes, on Veikkaus will be. However, right now, the organization will be pleased that at least part of its slot machine network is up and running again.