Icelanders trust and rely on ICE-SAR

Icelanders trust and rely on the Red Cross

Icelanders trust and rely on the Red Cross

Icelanders trust and rely on ICE-SAR

Owners
Loka

Icelandic Red Cross

  • Icelandic Red Cross
  • Efstaleiti 9
  • 103 Reykjavík
  • Phone 570-4000 | 570-4010
  • E-mail: central@redcross.is

The Red Cross in Iceland owns 68.75% of Íslandsspil, and it is one of the company’s most important sources of income.

Revenues from Íslandsspil enable the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance during a crisis or disaster and to take part in charity and humanitarian work within Iceland as well as abroad.

The Red Cross is the oldest and most widespread humanitarian organisation in the world, with activities in 190 countries. The Red Cross in Iceland has 20,000 members, who belong to 42 departments throughout the country. The Red Cross volunteers number around 3,000 and work on domestic projects as well as foreign aid.

The Red Cross spends most of its income on domestic humanitarian work each year by:

  • Operating a powerful emergency response system for serious events
  • Answering more than 15,000 phone calls and web chats on the Red Cross 1717 helpline
  • Visiting socially isolated individuals and other interested parties, as home visitors and phone friends, as well as offering visits with dogs
  • Assisting hundreds of people of foreign origin to integrate into Icelandic society
  • Contributing to harm reduction through the operation of Konukot and Frú Ragnheiður
  • Operating three shelters for people with mental health problems
  • Supporting a large number of projects abroad
  • Purchasing and operating all ambulances in Iceland

Learn more about the work of the Red Cross at http://www.raudikrossinn.is/

Loka

ICE-SAR

Despite the fact that the members of ICE-SAR are all volunteers, the operating expenses are high.

The organisation owns 31.25% in Íslandsspil, and their share of the operating profit of Íslandsspil is important for operations; it is used for the operation of equipment and the training of accident prevention and search and rescue workers.

ICE-SAR is the national association for search and rescue in Iceland. Under the banner of ICE-SAR, there are thousands of volunteers, 93 rescue teams, 33 accident prevention departments and 54 youth departments. The operation aims to prevent accidents and save lives and valuables at sea and on land.

Despite the fact that the members of ICE-SAR are all volunteers, the operating expenses are high. Lifesaving appliances and equipment, as well as training and educating volunteers, costs significant amounts each year. ICE-SAR owns 26.5% in Íslandsspil, and their share of the operating profit of Íslandsspil is very important for operations.

  • Around 13,000 members 
  • Approximately 4,300 people on call-out lists 
  • 1,300–1,600 call outs every year 
  • 13 lifeboats and over a hundred smaller boats 
  • Rescue school
  • Maritime safety and survival training center
  • The highlands search and rescue team

For further information about the organisation, see http://www.landsbjorg.is

The Red Cross in Iceland owns 68.75% of Íslandsspil, and it is one of the company’s most important sources of income.

Revenues from Íslandsspil enable the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance during a crisis or disaster and to take part in charity and humanitarian work within Iceland as well as abroad.

 

Read more

Despite the fact that the members of ICE-SAR are all volunteers, the operating expenses are high.

The organisation owns 31.25% in Íslandsspil, and their share of the operating profit of Íslandsspil is important for operations; it is used for the operation of equipment and the training of accident prevention and search and rescue workers.

Read more
Games

Our Games

The games in our Video lottery terminals (VLT´s) are for individuals aged 18 and older. Íslandsspil is one of two parties that have a license to operate VLT´s in Iceland. Íslandsspil acts in accordance with the Act on Video Lottery Terminals (73/1994) and the Regulation on Video Lottery Terminals (320/2008).

Íslandsspil VLT´s are located on the one hand in corner shops and stores and on the other, in amusement arcades or fully licensed restaurants.

  • In machines located in corner shops and stores, you can deposit between ISK 10–250, and the maximum amount that can be won is ISK 20,000.
  • In the amusement arcades / licensed restaurants, you can deposit a maximum of ISK 300 and the highest amount that can be won is ISK 1-300,000. 

The percentage of wins in all Íslandsspil machines is around 92%. Chance alone determines the outcome of the games, and in no way is it possible to affect the winning probability of the machines. 

Rules

  • Íslandsspil acts in accordance with the Act on Video Lottery Terminals (73/1994) and the Regulation on Video Lottery Terminals (320/2008).
  • Íslandsspil video lottery terminals are for individuals aged 18 and over. Individuals under the age of 18 may not play and are not entitled to a win.
  • The owner of the winning ticket must display valid ID, upon request, to receive payment of a win.
  • Winnings must be redeemed before the expiration date – otherwise the ticket is invalid.
  • Íslandsspil is not responsible for stolen or lost winning tickets.
  • The owner of the ticket is responsible for verifying the information on the winning ticket and also to report errors as soon as possible.
  • Winning tickets are considered invalid if the bar codes are unreadable by the Íslandsspil computer system.
  • A winning ticket is considered invalid if it has been tampered with in anyway.

FAQs

Who are Íslandsspil games for?

Íslandsspil games are for individuals aged 18 and older. 

What is the percentage of winning and the chance of winning in Íslandsspil machines?
According to regulations, the percentage of wins shall be at least 89%. The percentage of wins in Íslandsspil machines is around 92%. It should be kept in mind that this average is based on thousands of random results and is unrelated to the chance of winning, which varies for each game. 

Can the chance of winning be influenced somehow?
It is not possible in any way to influence the likelihood of winning; chance alone determines the outcome of the games. Cutting-edge computer equipment controls that every action and outcome of the gaming machines is totally independent of previous operations and how the machine is played. Íslandsspil employees cannot change or calibrate the chance of winning. 

What should I do if the machine I am playing on breaks down or the ticket does not print?
Please contact the supervisor or the Íslandsspil service center on 800-5444.

Gaming addiction – where can I find information?
Information on gaming addictions can be found on the website Responsible Gaming

About Íslandsspil

Íslandsspil

Íslandsspil is a joint venture owned by two non-governmental organizations, whom both work for the public good in Iceland. They are the Icelandic Red Cross and ICE-SAR.

Íslandsspil runs the electronic gaming machines, and all proceeds from the operation of the company goes to its owners in proportion to their holdings.

The owners of Íslandsspil do not incur any costs from the operation of the company. The contribution from Íslandsspil is a supplement to the company income, grants and donations received by the three associations. Íslandsspil’s authorisation to operate the electronic gaming machines gives the company’s owners the opportunity to raise revenues for general operations, thus reducing direct expenditures to the Treasury that would otherwise be necessary.

Íslandsspil acts in accordance with the Act on Video Lottery Terminals (73/1994) and the Regulation on Video Lottery Terminals (320/2008).

The goal and strategy of Islandsspil is to make the most profit for its owners, all of whom play a key role in strengthening the foundations of Icelandic society – each in their own way. In recent years, 60–70% of Islandsspil profits have returned to its owners and onwards to the public in the form of basic services that the owners of Islandsspil provide in Iceland.  

 

The license to operate gaming machines in Iceland is provided to ensure that profits flow to public interests. NGOs and charitable organisations are licensed for different types of gaming machines, and Islandsspil is licensed by the Minister of Justice to operate the gaming machines according to the Act on Video Lottery Terminals (73/1994) and the Regulation on Video Lottery Terminals (320/2008).

It is a significant responsibility to have been granted this authorisation for revenue collection. Islandsspil therefore emphasises transparency in operations as well as showing social responsibility. This includes monitoring the extent of gaming addictions and contributing to treatments.

The following are projects in the field of social responsibility:

  • Providing grants for Icelandic research on the prevalence of gaming addiction
  • Participating annually in research and analysis studies
  • Supporting the Nordic conferences on research into gaming addiction (SNSUS)
  • Participating in Nordic co-operation on responsible gaming
  • Supporting the 1717 helpline 
  • Providing grants to SÁÁ for treatment
  • Focusing particularly on the minimum age of players 
  • Educating players and sales centers and operating ábyrgspilun.is in collaboration with HHÍ

The history of the Íslandsspil electronic gaming machines can be traced to the year 1972, when the Red Cross was granted permission to operate the so-called 10kr (ISK 10) machines, which many people remember. The profits were allocated to the Red Cross charity, mainly for the operation of ambulances. Following the volcanic eruption in the Westmann Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) in 1973, there was an increased need for funds for relief work and the number of gaming machines were increased. 

In 1980, SÁÁ and ICE-SAR received similar operating licenses but did not use them until 1989. Then the Red Cross and SÁÁ co-operation began, and a year later, they joined with ICE-SAR.

In 1994, the company Icelandic Gaming Machines (Íslenskir söfnunarkassar) was formally established, and in 2003, the company’s name was changed to Íslandsspil.

In 2021, SÁÁ left the group of owners.