ATG named Mikael Bäcke chief executive of Hippos ATG, its Finnish joint venture with Suomen Hippos, the company said. The venture plans to launch on 1 January 2027, offering horse, sports and online casino betting; Henrik Friis Pedersen will succeed Bäcke as 25syv Group CEO.
The appointment establishes leadership for a Finnish venture planning horse, sports and online casino betting.
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Hippos ATG Oy has confirmed it secured a gaming licence in Finland, becoming the second company to announce one. The joint venture between Sweden's ATG and Suomen Hippos can offer online sports and horse-racing betting and iGaming from 1 July 2027, when Finland's liberalised market launches. The venture said it will return about 60% of profit to equestrian sports and horse breeding.
Hippos ATG Oy has confirmed that it has secured a gaming licence in Finland, becoming the second company to announce such a licence. The licence permits the company to take wagers over the internet on sports and horse racing, and to offer iGaming, from the moment the market opens.
Hippos ATG, the joint venture of Sweden's ATG and Suomen Hippos, said it has secured a five-year online gambling licence ahead of Finland's regulated market launch on 1 July 2027. It is the second operator to confirm a licence after Wildz group. Finland's National Police Board has not publicly disclosed any application outcomes.
Hippos ATG, the joint venture of Sweden's ATG and Finnish horse racing body Suomen Hippos, said it has received a gambling licence ahead of Finland's regulated online gambling market launch, according to an approval the company shared on social media. The licence is valid for five years. The company is the second operator to confirm receipt of a licence, after Malta-based Wildz Group. Finland's National Police Board has not publicly disclosed the outcome of any licence applications.
Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has published draft rules for online gambling licence holders ahead of the market’s planned July 2027 launch. Proposals include age-based slot stake caps of €10 or €20 per spin, gameplay restrictions and mandatory player reminders. The consultation is open until 5 August.
Finland opened applications for licences to operate virtual games, with the market launch planned for July 2027, according to the report. Hippos ATG Oy submitted an application, and the National Police Board is overseeing the initial phase; processing is estimated to take three to six months, followed by technical integration.
Hippos ATG Oy began applying on 3 March for licences to offer sports betting, online casino and horse-racing betting in Finland. The joint venture submitted its application to the National Police Board’s Lottery Administration; the new licensing market is due to take effect in July 2027, after Veikkaus’s state monopoly ends.