Gaming
Finnish gaming system
There has been a state monopoly on gaming in Finland for over 70 years. Gaming activities are operated by three state-controlled organisations:Veikkaus (the Finnish lottery operator), RAY (Finland's Slot Machine Association), and Fintoto.
Proceeds from gaming activities are used to promote not-for-profit activities, such as sports and physical education, science, the arts, youth work, health and social welfare. Revenue from totalisator betting is used to support equestrian sports and horse raising.
Key content of the Lotteries Act
The aim of the gaming legislation is to ensure the legal protection of players, to prevent offences related to gaming, and to reduce social and health problems caused by problem gambling.
To protect children and young people from the negative effects of gaming, the Lotteries Act sets the age limit for gaming at 18. Gaming operators – together with agents and convenience stores, kiosks and other places with slot machines – are responsible for ensuring compliance with the age limit. Failure to do so may result in the parties being held criminally liable.
Marketing of gaming may not be targeted at minors, nor may it create an image likely to promote excessive playing. A gaming operator with the exclusive right to operate a given gaming activity is allowed to market both gaming and itself, provided that it does so in a responsible manner so as to to draw business towards licensed games operated in Finland.
The marketing of games such as betting and slot machines which carry a particular risk of negative effects is banned in places other than designated gaming arcades, casinos and trotting tracks. Despite the marketing ban on these games, information may be provided on what is being bet on, where the gaming is to take place, any terms and conditions that may apply, how much it costs to participate, what the probability of winning is and how much may be won.
National Police Board controls the marketing and conduct of gaming activities
The National Police Board has a duty to ensure that the provisions of the Lotteries Act and the Consumer Protection Act are complied with when games are marketed. Gaming operators must submit an annual report on the marketing of their activities to the Ministry of the Interior and the National Police Board.
The Lotteries Act contains provisions banning the operation of unlicensed gaming and the illegal marketing of licensed gaming. It also lays down provisions on notice of a conditional fine, which may be imposed by the National Police Board in order to enforce compliance.