Veikkaus Deputy CEO to Exit After 14 Years as Finnish Operator Appoints New Gaming Technologies EVP
SCCG · Licensing
Veikkaus Deputy CEO to Exit After 14 Years as Finnish Operator Appoints New Gaming Technologies EVP
TL;DR — Veikkaus deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoski exits on August 31 after 14 years. Chris Armes joins as EVP of Gaming Technologies in autumn 2026. The transitions coincide with Finland opening its online market in July 2027 after 50 licence applications.
SCCG Take — The appointments supply technology and regulated-market expertise to support Veikkaus digital modernisation while it keeps its lottery monopoly and pursues international expansion.
Finland’s state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus is losing its deputy CEO as it prepares for the end of its online monopoly. Velipekka Nummikoski will depart on August 31 after 14 years at the company. The timing aligns with the scheduled 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 joined the executive team that merged RAY and Fintoto into Veikkaus to consolidate state gambling assets into a single operator. He then assumed the deputy CEO role with responsibility for public affairs, responsible gambling and communications alongside CEO Olli Sarekoski.
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 the journey 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.”
Gaming Technologies Appointment
Chris Armes will join as executive vice president of Gaming Technologies and executive team member in autumn 2026. Armes arrives from High5Games, where he oversaw technology and operations across B2B and B2C markets. His background includes senior roles at Gaming Innovation Group and Scientific Games Digital, including integration work after the acquisition of NYX Gaming Group.
Sarekoski cited Armes’ experience transforming iGaming technology and managing operations in regulated markets. Sarekoski said: “Chris Armes’ strong commitment to responsible gaming and security is well aligned with our values,” adding that he would be instrumental in developing “first-class customer experiences and technological innovation.” Long-serving senior manager Ari Aarnihuhta will shift to an executive adviser role.
According to Focus Gaming News, Veikkaus is prioritising modernisation of its digital platforms and international expansion. By June, 50 companies had applied for new Finnish online gambling licences, most of them international. The operator retains its monopoly over lotteries, scratchcards and parts of land-based gambling. It points to scalable platforms, cybersecurity and AI-driven player protection as assets for international growth.
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published
Steve’s read · SCCG Intelligence
Monopoly operator swaps long-serving deputy for regulated iGaming tech veteran — classic pre-competition repositioning with eight months to go.
We’ve watched state monopolies face liberalisation across Europe for three decades. Bringing in a regulated-market tech executive from High5Games and Scientific Games signals Veikkaus knows it must compete on product, not privilege. The deputy CEO exit and tech upgrade are textbook moves before July 2027’s 50-licence avalanche hits Helsinki.
- Deputy CEO Nummikoski exits August 31 after 14 years, including RAY merger and digital buildout
- Chris Armes joins from High5Games as Gaming Technologies EVP in autumn 2026
- Finland’s online market opens July 2027 with 50 licence applications already filed
SCCG angle: SCCG has guided operators and suppliers through every major European liberalisation. If you’re among those 50 applicants or selling into the new Finnish market, we broker the platform, payments, and compliance partnerships that let you launch fast while incumbents retool. We know who’s actually ready.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
