Veikkaus appoints Chris Armes as executive VP of Gaming Technologies

Finland’s state-owned gaming operator Veikkaus has announced the appointment of Chris Armes as executive vice president of Gaming Technologies, and a member of its executive team. 

The appointment, revealed on Monday, marks Veikkaus’ preparation to adapt to market changes driven by the liberalisation of Finland’s gambling industry.

Armes is set to take up his new role in the autumn of 2026, leading Veikkaus’ technology organisation from its Helsinki headquarters. 

Instrumental to Veikkaus’ development

Veikkaus president and CEO Olli Sarekoski highlighted Armes’ proven expertise in transforming iGaming technology and leading operations in heavily regulated international markets as key factors behind his recruitment. 

“Chris Armes’ strong commitment to responsible gaming and security is well aligned with our values,” Sarekoski said. He added that Armes would be instrumental in helping Veikkaus develop “first-class customer experiences and technological innovation.”

The company is focusing on modernising its digital platforms and expanding internationally to maintain competitiveness against emerging private operators following regulatory reforms.

Finland is currently liberalising its gambling market, ending Veikkaus’ longstanding monopoly and introducing new domestic and international competitors.

As of June, 50 operators had applied for licences. The Finnish regulator said the majority of applicants so far had been international or foreign gambling companies. 

Industry consultant Jari Vähänen, formerly a senior executive at Veikkaus, estimated the entire business could be valued at up to €4.5 billion ($5.24 billion) following the industry’s liberalisation.

Colourful background

Armes brings extensive experience from his previous role at High5Games, an international gaming technology supplier, where he oversaw technology and operational delivery across both B2B and B2C markets. 

His career also includes senior technology leadership positions at Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) and Scientific Games Digital. Notably, he led the integration efforts following Scientific Games’ acquisition of NYX Gaming Group.

“I am excited to join Veikkaus, an ambitious and forward-looking company entering a crucial new phase,” Armes said. He expressed enthusiasm for supporting Veikkaus’ technology-driven growth and delivering “competitive, scalable and safe digital platforms for our players”.

Other movements

Veikkaus emphasised Armes’ expertise in key strategic areas, including cloud transformation, scalable digital platforms, cybersecurity and AI-driven player protection. 

Following Armes’ appointment, Ari Aarnihuhta, a long-serving senior manager at Veikkaus, will transition to an executive adviser role. Sarekoski acknowledged Aarnihuhta’s “significant work for the company” in a formal statement.