Gambling and problem gambling in Finland
Gaming in Finland is organized as a national monopoly, and the gaming market is divided between three organizations.
RAY, The Slot Machine Association operates the Casino and casino table games, as well as slot machines. The revenue from RAY’s games goes to social and health care organizations. Veikkaus Oy, The Finnish National Lottery provides lotteries and betting, from which the proceeds are distributed to Finnish culture, arts, science, sports and youth work. Fintoto Oy runs pari-mutuel wagering, with the revenue being allocated to horse breeding, horse sports and trotting.
The facilities for gambling in Finland include:
- 1 Casino
- 43 racetracks (trotting)
- 76 gaming arcades
- over 250 restaurants with casino table games
- 4,000 game retail outlets
- 20,000 slot machines
In Finland, the age limit on gambling is 18 years. The new amendments to the Lotteries Act came into force on 1 October 2010. Finland wants to take more effective steps to protect minors from the negative effects of gambling. According to slot machines the current minimum age for playing them will be practically raised from 15 to 18 from 1 July 2011.
The latest prevalence study (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/Taloustutkimus 2007) shows that 73% of the Finns (15 – 74 yrs.) sometimes gamble. 41% of them gamble every week and 11% gamble more often than once a week.
An average Finn spends 13 euros per week on gambling. The average gambling expenditure of current problem gamblers is 90 euros, which is considerably more than the average. The distribution of overall expenditure is extremely skew. The expenditure of the great majority of gamblers is extremely low, whereas that of a small minority is very high. On the basis of the population survey, it can be estimated that 5% of gamblers are responsible for approximately one half of total expenditure on gambling.
According to the latest prevalence study (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/Taloustutkimus 2007) over the last 12-month period, 3.1% of the population (130,000 persons) were classifiable as having gambling problems. Over the same period, 1% of the population (42,000 persons) were classifiable as probable gambling addicts (with a SOGS score of at least 5 points)
The treatment of problem gamblers is most often arranged at substance abuse treatment facilities, A-Clinics, and it is at the responsibility of municipalities.
Updated 2011-02-15
According to the latest prevalence study (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health/Taloustutkimus 2007) over the last 12-month period, 3.1% of the population (130,000 persons) were classifiable as having gambling problems. Over the same period, 1% of the population (42,000 persons) were classifiable as probable gambling addicts (with a SOGS score of at least 5 points)
The treatment of problem gamblers is most often arranged at substance abuse treatment facilities, A-Clinics, and it is at the responsibility of municipalities.
Updated 2011-02-15