Different countries have their own take on how the online gaming industry should be regulated, and many countries in Europe have created monopolies for government-run casino operations. Finland is one of these countries, and while there really is nothing stopping Finnish players from playing at sites not licensed by the government, the hope is that residents will feel a level of comfort and safety from playing with a site that they know is fully regulated. Let’s look at PAF, how they came to be a software developer as well as an operator, and some of its more popular slots titles.
A Brief History of PAF
PAF, which stands for Ålands Penningautomatförening, is the gambling monopoly on the Aland Islands off the coast of Finland. On top of operating a land-based gaming empire, the company also has an online casino arm which allows players to play from the comfort of their own homes. The goal fo this gaming company is to provide cash to social services that help the residents of the Aland Islands, and this is where all the gambling proceeds are allocated.
PAF was launched in the 1960s and was in the land-based space for decades before it added online games in the late 1990s. The company has licensed games from other software vendors but has also built its own suite of casino games for additional content. The benefit of having built its own games is that PAF doesn’t have to pay any royalties on the revenue generated from these games.
Today, PAF has offices in many European cities and has offered games to players in other countries on top of the Aland Islands. It was recognized for its charitable efforts by being named the Most Socially Responsible Gaming Company by eGaming Review in 2014.
Recommended PAF Casino Sites
Top Three PAF Slots Games
Le Petit Patisserie
You really can’t go wrong with a slot machine that features a game board full of delicious looking treats. That is exactly what you will find with this French bakery-themed game from PAF. This is a 5 reel, 15 pay line slot, which may not give you as many winning options as other slot machines, but more than makes up for it with the progressive jackpot. When you are playing this game, you are looking to match 3 or more of the dessert symbols to walk away from a winner, but if you manage to get 5 chocolate covered strawberries across the reels, then you will take home the jackpot which has been hovering around 40,000 Euro at the time of this review. We like the sounds that are in this game that complement the whimsical graphics.
Beach Party
Pack your sunblock and your swimwear as PAF takes you on an adventure to the beach with this sand-themed game. Symbols represent everything you could imagine from a day at the beach, and the bright colors will help cheer you up on a winter’s day. The game is a 5 reel, 9 pay line game, so you don’t need to try to keep track of dozens of ways you might be able to win (this also helps you bleed chips at a slower rate). If you are lucky enough to get two of the beachy cocktail symbols on your spin, the bonus round will be unlocked, and then you will be able to win an enhanced amount of chips. Overall, we love beach-themed games, and this one does not disappoint in the least.
Hot Pot
Here is another food-themed game from this supplier, but not the Asian food that goes by this name. Instead, you are transported into an Italian kitchen for the Hot Pot slot game. With a wallpapered background which is in full view with transparent reels, the symbols on this 5 reel game all represent Italian cooking, from peppers and tomatoes to pasta and basil and everything in between. The game features 20 pay lines as well as a bonus round, which when triggered gives you access to the chef’s pantry where you select foods that reveal your prizes.
Mobile Compatibility
Mobile play has been critical to the success of PAF, as many of the online games are available on the ferry rides to and from the Aland Islands. The company’s online platform is compatible with the browsers of most mobile devices, and this also made it much easier to integrate the software that PAF has licensed from third-party vendors. We have not seen a native app for the PAF games, although we would imagine that one is in development.
Conclusion
Although it isn’t a true monopoly, PAF continues to be a successful operator in the online gaming world. The fact that the proceeds from this site go right back into supporting local social causes is clearly driving players to the site. This allows players to feel like they are giving back even if they are trying to win money in the first place. With the addition of other software partners to the in-house casino games built by PAF, players are going to find a site that is very competitive with the offshore “grey market” solutions.
