Tampere Casino to be situated at the Central Arena

Finland's Slot Machine Association (RAY) has decided to open Finland's second casino in the new culture and sports arena, part of the Tampere Central Deck and Arena -project. The first stage of the project should be ready in 2020.

The casino will be in contact with the ice rink and the hotel at the arena, and it will have its own entrance from the street-level central square. Plenty of apartment buildings and office space have been planned to surround the arena.

Negotiations about the location of the new casino were also held with Sokos Hotel Torni and the joint project of Koskikeskus and Sokos Hotel Ilves. In favour of the Central Deck and Arena turned out to be location, good public transportation connections and a large selection of events and services. Restaurants, accommodation services and the entertainment scene will keep the area active all year round.

– Many things support each other in this project. The Deck and Arena will create an urban space where you have a lot of reasons to spend time and enjoy yourself, says Timo Kiiskinen, Business Manager of RAY.

Gaming companies RAY, Fintoto and Veikkaus will join together under the name Veikkaus on 1.1.2017. The new company will produce over a billion euros yearly to charity. 

– Tampere Casino will be the flagship of the new company. It can offer a large variety of games, from roulette to slot machines and sports betting. The Central Deck and Arena -project will provide the casino with excellent circumstances, says Velipekka Nummikoski, Managing Director of RAY and the future Deputy Managing Director of the new Veikkaus.

Casino will create new jobs

In addition to being a significant addition to the Deck and Arena -project, the casino is believed to add to the city's attractiveness as a whole.

– The decision to build Finland's second casino at the new arena makes Tampere an even more attractive tourism destination and creates new jobs in the city. Placing the casino in Tampere city centre proves, that our efforts to develope the city and especially its centre are paying off, says Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Mayor of Tampere.

The Tampere casino will occupy some 2 000 square metres in space and employ 80-100 people. The casino will offer over a hundred international slot machines, around 10 table games and poker as cash game and tournament play.

The planning and building of the casino will now go forward along with the Central Deck and Arena -project schedule. 

For more information, contact

Velipekka Nummikoski, Managing Director, RAY, tel. +358 50 506 5588

Timo Kiiskinen, Business Manager, RAY, tel. +358 40 568 2646

Ari Räsänen, Communications Manager, RAY, tel. +358 44 557 9879

Translation: Heli Jokela