Type Government agency Key people Christer Fahlstedt CEO Headquarters Mariehamn, Åland Islands Motto Paf - Play among friends Net income 227 million EUR (2015) | Industry Gambling & Casinos Revenue 110 million EUR (2015) Founded 1966 Number of employees 345 (2015) | |
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Native name Ålands Penningautomatförening Area served Worldwide except Non-Regulated Countries Products Slots, bingo, casino, poker, betting online, live betting, lotteries CEO Christer Fahlstedt (1 Jun 2016–) | ||
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 serves players from countries including Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Spain and Italy. Paf is licensed and controlled by the local Åland government.
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An independent allocation board distributes all the Paf profit to non-profit associations, organizations and good causes on the Åland Islands. In 2015, Paf distributed a total of 20,7 million euros in different grants and loans.
Loans and investments
Paf's counterpart in Mainland Finland is the not-for-profit gambling company Veikkaus. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 online gaming operator Winga.
Paf and Sunborn hotel opened Sunborn Casino in Gibraltar in spring 2015.
January 29, 2016, Paf's Board of Directors decided to part ways with CEO Anders Ingves. On May 18, 2016, Christer Fahlstedt was appointed as CEO and will be based at the head office in Jomala, Åland Islands.
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.