Vegas turned 15

In 1995, new lottery legislation came into effect that, among other things, meant that VLTs could be introduced as a new game in Sweden. The Government decided that AB Tipstjänst (Swedish Pools) would have a monopoly on the modern VLTs and that the surplus would accrue to the Swedish Sports Confederation and the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs.

1996

In May 1996 Tipstjänst installed the first VLTs – under the name Jack Vegas – in restaurants with alcohol permits. The surplus accrued to the Swedish Sports Confederation and the Swedish National Board for Youth. A minimum age limit of 18 applied from the start. Winnings were paid in the form of gift vouchers with a maximum value of SEK 1,000.

1997

Tipstjänst was merged with Penninglotteriet to form Svenska Spel. In subsequent years, revenue increased substantially and Jack Vegas became an established game.

1999

Svenska Spel received a permit to arrange gaming on VLTs also for bingo halls, and Miss Vegas was launched. Gift vouchers were replaced by cash winnings. Meanwhile, maximum winnings were reduced from SEK 1,000 to SEK 500.

2001

In terms of revenue, Jack Vegas became the single largest game in Sweden, generating substantial earnings for restaurants, bingo halls and Swedish sporting associations. An adverse result of this was the emergence of a growing gaming problem. Thus, responsible gaming became an increasingly important feature of Jack Vegas operations.

2005

The Winwave VLT was launched. Winwave was the result of a competition arranged by Svenska Spel to develop VLTs for the future.

2006

Vegas turned 10. A limit rule was introduced for business partners. Vegas was not allowed to dominate their business, but be a complement to the restaurant’s or bingo hall’s regular business.

2007

When Svenska Spel’s logotype, the winner symbol, was integrated in all product logotypes, the names Jack Vegas and Miss Vegas were removed and replaced by the simpler product name, Vegas.

2008

Age verification was introduced in the VLTs in order to highlight the minimum age of 18 for playing on Vegas.

2009

The special ring-fencing of Vegas’ surplus for sports ceased after a Government decision.

2010

An energy-saving function was introduced in Vegas VLTs, which decreased energy consumption. During the autumn, a new responsible gaming campaign was conducted featuring the elite ice-hockey goalkeeper, Henrik Lundqvist.

2011

Vegas turned 15. A new gaming system was introduced in a number of restaurants, and in 2012 all business partners will have it. Over a ten-year period, in terms of net gaming revenue, Vegas has been Sweden’s single most profitable game. Net gaming revenue in 2011 reached SEK 2.1 billion – an all-time high.