Gambling problem in Finland

Gambling problem in Finland

In addition to the population survey, School Health Promotion studies are carried out every few years and the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey also provide comparable data on gambling among young people.

Problem gambling and gambling addiction

• According to population data collected in 2023, 4,2% of Finns aged 15–74 suffer from various levels of gambling problems. This comes up to around 151 000 Finns. The year 2023 differs from the earlier population surveys, when their proportion has been around three percent.
• Gambling problems of varying severity are more common in men than in women (women 1.8%, men 6.6%). 
•  The gambling problem has increased significantly among men, while it has decreased correspondingly among women (in 2019, men: 4.0%; women 2.1%).
• The prevalence of problem gambling is highest among young adults: 18–29-year-olds have the highest proportion of problem gamblers (6.9%); 30–44-year-olds have the second highest proportion (5.4%).

At-risk gambling and problem gambling

13% of Finns are considered at-risk gamblers. In the previous survey conducted in 2019, the proportion of at-risk gamblers was 10%. At-risk gambling has decreased among both men and women. Those who gambled once a month or more or played at least three different types of games were more likely to be at-risk gamblers.

Gambling frequency, its versatility and amount of money spent are clearly linked to gambling problems: when looking at different avenues of gambling, people who only gamble online or who gamble both online and offline are more likely to be problem gamblers or at-risk gamblers.

Those who gambled daily or several times a week and played at least four different types of games were more likely to have a gambling problem than other respondents.

Sources and further information:

Suomalainen rahapelaaminen 2023 (THL, Tilastoraportteja 15/2024)

Gambling and problem gambling : Finnish Gambling 2019 : Prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased