Paf (company)
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Native name | Ålands Penningautomatförening |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gambling & Casinos |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Mariehamn, Åland |
Key people | Johan Rothberg (Acting CEO) |
| Services | Online Gambling, Physical Slots in Baltic region, Club Paf Casino, Poker, Sunborn Casino Gibraltar |
| Revenue | EUR 108 million (2014 [1]) |
| Profit | EUR 17,2 million [1] (2014 [1]) |
Number of employees | 314 (2014 [1]) |
| Slogan | Play among friends |
| Website |
www |
Ålands Penningautomatförening or Paf is a Finnish company that operates a legal gambling monopoly on the Åland Islands, Finland. Paf also has an Internet-based gambling and gaming operation, in addition to operating and maintaining casino and gaming activities on a large number of cruise ferries. The purpose of Paf is to generate funds for humanitarian and social causes on the Åland Islands. Paf has offices in Mariehamn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn, Madrid and Milan.
An independent allocation board distributes all the Paf profit to non-profit associations, organizations and good causes on the Åland Islands. In 2014, Paf distributed a total of 21 million euros in different grants and loans.[2][3]
- Social activities: 2 500 000
- Environmental activities: 300 000
- Youth activities: 282 000
- Sports activities: 1 414 000
- Cultural activities: 1 778 000
- Project grants: 2 660 000
- Event grants: 100 000
- Other grants: 950 000
Paf's counterpart in Mainland Finland is the not-for-profit gambling company RAY ("Raha-automaattiyhdistys" in Finnish). Disputes over jurisdiction between the two associations are ongoing.
Paf is going to start a four-year research cooperation with the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University. The study focus on setting limits, customer contact and feedback on gaming habits. The research project is led by Professor of Psychology Per Carlbring, and Paf is funding the study with 320 000 euros.[4]
Paf arrange every other year a multi-national Responsible Gaming Summit. Purpose of the conference is to increase awareness about responsible gaming. The conference is aimed to gaming operators, partners, academics and decision makers to learn from each other and share best practices. The conference arranged at 29 September 2015. The first conference was arranged in 2013.[5]
Paf and the betting company Unibet began cooperation in February 2010.[6]
History
Paf was founded in 1966 in Åland. The founding organizations were Folkhälsan på Åland, Save the Children, Finnish Red Cross and Dagens Barn -foundation.[7]
In 1973 Paf started to operate on the sea in car ferries registered to Åland. In the end of 1990s, Paf began to provide its services on the internet.[7]
In February 2005, Paf was sentenced for violation of gambling law for actively promoting its online gambling activities to Mainland Finland. In December, Paf was yet again placed under investigation, as Finland's interior minister Kari Rajamäki alleged that Paf had continued its gambling in Finland while ignoring its last sentence. Representatives for Paf disputes Rajamäki's claims and contend Paf operate within the boundaries of the law.
In 2015 Paf expanded to the Italian market by acquiring Italian[6] online gaming operator Winga.[8]
Paf and Sunborn hotel opened Sunborn Casino in Gibraltar in Spring 2015.[9]
February 6, 2016, CEO Anders Ingves steps down by Board from the position of chief executive and CFO Johan Rothberg has been appointed acting CEO.
Operations
Paf operates in EU and UK region with offices in Åland Islands as well as in Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn, Madrid and Milan with Sunborn Casino in Sunborn Hotel Gibraltar. Paf employs around 400 people from some 20 different countries.
Paf acquired Italian gaming operator Winga in 2015. Winga is the only operator in Italy which allows its customers to play and interact with a channel owned Television that broadcasts live part of the offer. Winga offers its customers an almost complete, including poker, bingo, the skill games, the Casino and walking will in fact enriched with Sportsbook. Where most of these are accessible both from that from Mobile Tablet.
Awards
Paf was named the most socially responsible gaming company in the eGaming Review Operator Awards in 2014.[10]
Records
According to Guinness World Records, the biggest jackpot in a slot machine game is 17.8 million euros, which was won from Paf's Mega Fortune game in 2013.[11]
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Wikinews has related news: Police investigates Paf in Finland |
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Paf – Latest Company Results".
- ↑ "Paf raises €21 million for the public good in 2014". News Powered by Cision. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- ↑ "Paf Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- ↑ "Tukholman yliopisto tutkii nettiviestinnän keinoja pelirajojen asettamiseksi". Turun Sanomat. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Peliyhtiö Paf investoi 320.000 euroa peliriippuvuuden tutkimukseen". MEDICINE NUNTIUM. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
- 1 2 "Unibet enters B2B market, strikes sports deal with Paf". Calvin Ayre News. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- 1 2 "The history of Paf". Paf. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Paf expands into Italy with Winga acquisition". iGamingBusiness. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Paf teams up with Sunborn to open new casino in Gibraltar". GamingIntelligence. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Paf wins award for social responsibility". Intergame. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
- ↑ "Largest jackpot payout in an online slot machine game". Guinness World Records. Retrieved August 25, 2015.