Gambling is a big issue in Finland, and it’s affecting more and more people, especially younger people. Here are some important facts:
- Veikkaus is the main gambling operator in Finland, and it makes a lot of money. In 2022, they made about €1.07 billion from people losing money while gambling.
- About 44 % of Finns gambled online in 2022. 6,5 % of teenagers (15-17years of age) played gambling games online and 4,7 played also outside the monopoly system. Most of these players are young men.
- You have to be 18 years old to gamble legally in Finland, but many teens still do it because age checks are not always enforced. In 2023, 36,5% of 15–17-year-olds admitted to have gambled, even though they are too young.
- Lottery games like scratch cards and online lotteries are very popular among teens. Even though they’re meant for adults, many teens play them regularly.
- In 2022, it was reported that 60% of online gambling happens on websites where there are no age checks. This makes it easier for young people to access gambling sites without anyone stopping them.
- Young people, especially those between 18–24, are more likely to have gambling problems. Many of them also face other challenges, like mental health issues, substance abuse, and being unemployed. In 2023, 62,9% of 18-29 year olds engaged in gambling.
- In 2023 more men (74.7%) gambled than women (65.1%). However, men are also more likely to have gambling problems.