The financial results for the first half of 2006 turned out as expected for Finnish gambling operator Veikkaus Oy.
The company's business activities developed according to plan, Head of Communications Riitta Nissi said. During the first 26 weeks of the year, the Nordic monopoly attained a turnover of 661.6 million euro (a 2.1 percent gain). Growth was significantly limited by the fact that there was one round less in Lotto and Joker during the period under review in 2006 than during the respective period in 2005. The turnover of sports games and other draw games increased during the first half of the year. In contrast, the lotto games and instant tickets showed a slight downward curve.
For the period between January and June 2006, Veikkaus posted a financial result of 191.7 million euro. The comparative result was 3.4 million euro (1.8 percent) smaller than that of the respective period in 2005.
Sales for the Half-Year (in Millions Euro)
Odds Betting: 49.9 (compared to 77.4 for the all of 2005)
Lotto Games: 21.6 (32.2)
Keno: 15.0 (24.5)
Other Sports Betting: 8.6 (16.3)
einstant: 3.4 (3.9)
Other: 3.1 (4.8)
Total: 101.6 (159.0).
Veikkaus is not disclosing the distribution percentages (over-the-counter v. email v. mobile), but did provide the percentages for over-the-counter v. Internet and mobile combined. This once again shows that there is still no breakthrough for mobile betting.
Half-Year Percentages (of Total Revenues) for Internet/Mobile Sales per Product
Odds Betting: 35
Other Sports Betting: 18
Keno: 12
Lotto Games: 9
Other: 9
eInstant: 5
The combined share for Internet/mobile gambling was 15 percent.
Internet gambling was launched in Finland in 1996.
Veikkaus paid out a total of 346.7 million euro (a 3.4 percent increase over the same period in 2005) to players. The retailer commissions amounted to 39 million euro (a 2.4 percent decrease).
The contribution to the Finnish state in 2006 will total 401.2 million euro. Veikkaus' financial development during the first half of the year indicates that this year's return objective can be attained.
During the first half of the year, Finns spent an average of 125 euro on Veikkaus games per capita. The top three games have retained their popularity for a long time. Lotto continues to hold the top position, with an average of 40 euro spent per capita. Keno ranked second again at 24 euro per capita. The third most popular game was fixed-odds betting at 13 euro per capita. Finland's population is 5.2 million.
During the period under review, Veikkaus paid out over 40 major jackpots. The largest prize was 4.3 million euro in the Lotto.
In addition the National Lottery (Veikkaus), there are two other gambling monopoles in Finland. Toto games may only be organized by Fintoto Oy, which is owned by the central organization of trotting and horse breeding in Finland (Suomen Hippos ry). Casinos are operated by Rahaautomaat-tiyhdistys, the Slot Machine Association, which is a public company better known as RAY.