08/17/26
With myFocus you can edit your personalised news feed, follow topics and more.
Velipekka Nummikoski has been at Finland’s state-owned gambling operator for 14 years.
Finland.- It’s been announced that Veikkaus deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoskiis to leave his position after 14 years at Finland’s state-owned gambling operator. He will depart on August 31 as the operator prepares for the opening of Finland’s online gambling market from July 2027.
Nummikoski first took the helm of the Finnish slot machine operator RAY in 2012. There, he oversaw the launch of the operator’s online casino platform. In 2017, he became part of the executive team that merged RAY and Fintotointo Veikkaus, fulfilling the government’s mandate to consolidate state gambling assets into a single operator. Following the merger, he assumed the role of Deputy CEO, with responsibility for public affairs, responsible gambling and communications alongside CEO Olli Sarekoski.
Commenting on his tenure, Nummikoski said: “I started as CEO of RAY in 2012, at a time when digitalisation was beginning to transform the gambling industry. I have had the opportunity to be involved both in the merger of three companies into the new Veikkaus and in thejourney towards a competitive market. It has been a great privilege to work at the heart of this transformation. Next year, Veikkaus will enter a new era, and at the same time it will also be my turn to move towards a new challenge. My warm thanks to everyone at Veikkaus for the years we have shared.”
Chris Armes named executive vice president of Gaming Technologies
Meanwhile, Veikkaus has confirmed the appointment ofChris Armes as executive vice president of Gaming Technologiesand as a member of its executive team. Armes is scheduled to begin his role in autumn 2026.
Armes joins Veikkaus from High5Games, where he oversaw technology and operations across B2B and B2C markets. His career also includes senior roles at Gaming Innovation Group and Scientific Games Digital, where he led integration efforts after the acquisition of NYX Gaming Group.
Sarekoski pointed to Armes’ track record in transforming igaming technology and managing operations in tightly regulated markets as decisive factors in the hire. “Chris Armes’ strong commitment to responsible gaming and security is well aligned with our values,” Sarekoski said, adding that he would be instrumental in developing “first-class customer experiences and technological innovation.”
Alongside the appointment, long-serving senior manager Ari Aarnihuhta will move into an executive adviser role.
Veikkaus is prioritising the modernisation of its digital platforms and international expansion to remain competitive as Finland dismantles the operator’s monopoly and opens the market to domestic and foreign operators. By June, 50 companies had already applied for new Finnish online gambling licences, most of them international.
Veikkaus will retain its monopoly over lotteries, scratchcards and parts of land-based gambling. It has highlighted its expertise in scalable platforms, cybersecurity and AI-driven player protection as central to its strategy while it seeks to expand internationally.
