Gambling in Finland
Finland has a State-controlled monopoly on gambling operations. However, the European Union is pressing Finland to liberalize its gambling market. The EU has also questioned Finland’s charitable gambling claims. If you are older than 18 years old, you can play online games. However, if you are under the age of 18, gambling is not legal.
Minimum gambling age is 18
The minimum gambling age in Finland is 18 years old. This is a measure to protect children and adolescents from the risks associated with gambling. Finland’s gambling system is a state monopoly regulated by the Lotteries Act. The legislation was introduced in 2008. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the new legal age on young people and the effect of raising the gambling age on socioeconomic differences.
The legal age for gambling in Finland is 18. This applies to all forms of legal gambling in Finland, including bars, restaurants, gaming arcades, and casinos. Finland’s gambling legislation also prohibits online kolikkopelit the sale of lottery tickets to minors. However, a few exceptions exist. Players must be at least eighteen years old to buy lottery tickets or gamble at other online casinos in Finland.
Online gambling is legal if you are over 18
Online gambling is legal in Finland if you are at least eighteen years old. If you are under the age of 18, you aren’t allowed to play any games. However, if you are 18 or older, you can play in Finland’s land-based casinos.
Finland’s gaming laws don’t prohibit online gambling for residents, but there is a loophole in the law. Because the country doesn’t have any real way to block online casinos, the government can’t do much to stop residents from signing up and playing real money games. The primary law regarding gambling in Finland is the Lotteries Act, which is intended to protect players and reduce the negative effects of gambling. The Interior Ministry creates the rules, which govern how much prize money is paid to winners, the types of games available on online casinos, and where gaming rooms can be located.
State-controlled monopoly
In the EU, Finland is the only member state with a state-controlled monopoly of online gambling. The Finnish government has long justified the monopoly by arguing that the state is better positioned to protect consumers than private companies. However, there is no evidence that the monopoly model is better for the consumer than the licensing model.
The Finnish gambling regulator is now looking at alternatives to the monopoly model. The Swedish gambling regulator is often cited as a model for licensing, but the operators say it is overly restrictive, especially when it comes to deposit limits. The Danish model is also being considered, as is a "cooling-off" period.
Problems associated with gambling
A recent study found that many Finns are affected by problems associated with gambling. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reported that about 52,000 Finns had a gambling problem, and over 112,000 had a gambling addiction. This means that almost 400,000 Finns were affected by gambling problems in 2011. This is a problem that affects the society at large; one in five Finns has a friend or family member suffering from a gambling problem.
The Finnish government has taken action to address problems associated with gambling, and the state has allocated significant funds to fight the problem. In just ten years, Finnish government resources for gambling-related issues have risen from practically nothing to a few million Euros. This is likely a reaction to the growing number of people in Finland who are at risk of gambling.