Veikkaus to enter contract negotiations with up to 620 staff
Finland’s monopoly operator confirms further talks as it takes steps to shift to a “product-first” business ahead of multi-licence market launch in 2027
Veikkaus is set to enter contract renegotiations with up to 620 employees as part of the Finnish monopoly operator’s preparations for a multi-licence market from 2027.
The operator issued a proposal for a change to negotiations on Monday, 2 September, which covers between 580 and 620 staff.
Veikkaus said the negotiations could lead to up to four redundancies and between 10 and 37 “material changes” to employment contracts.
The business has styled the latest talks as a “sequel” to the company restructuring that was initiated last November, in which up to 215 redundancies were confirmed.
Veikkaus said: “We are still planning to carry on with the change process in order to optimally support successful business and implementation of the strategy, while complying with the regulatory requirements.”
Those changes also include between 110 and 150 employees’ employment terms being altered, while the land-based Casino Tampere and 19 game arcades have also been closed.
However, Veikkaus did add that as it prepares for the multi-licence market to go live in January 2027, there could be positive changes along the way such as the possibility of new roles and jobs opening up and/or existing positions reevaluated and potentially restructured.
Heli Lallukka, Veikkaus executive vice-president of HR, said the changes would allow the current monopoly operator to maintain a level of competitiveness in a multi-licence market.
Specifically, the HR boss stressed Veikkaus was moving to a “more product-based model” as a business, which requires restructuring.
Lallukka explained: “This turning point is an opportunity for Veikkaus to reform and grow. We will continue to invest in business that we deem to be significant for Veikkaus’ future competitivity.
“We want to turn Veikkaus into a company that is a major operator both in Finland and internationally, the customers’ first choice and a shared source of pride of all Finns.”
Finland is set to bring an end to Veikkaus’ monopoly at the start of 2027, with applications for licences for the Nordic market due to open from the start of 2026.
The new regime would also include B2B licences from 2028 and a dedicated regulator in the shape of the Finnish Supervisory Agency operating within the Ministry of Finance.