Gambling Laws in Finland

Finland's gambling laws create an interesting situation in both the country itself and the EU. Most types are legal though they are provided to residents and visitors via a monopoly situation.

While offshore operators cannot obtain a licence in Finland, there are suggestions that the country could move towards a more inclusive system soon.

Which Types of Gambling Are Legal in Finland?

The Finnish Lotteries Act (1047/2001) covers all the country's gambling laws. It describes gambling as 'an activity in which participants may win a prize of monetary value based in full or in part on chance and in which there is a charge for participation'.

As difficult as it may be to define gambling, Finland makes its stance very clear because all types are legal, though the government heavily controls the industry.

In mainland Finland, state-owned Veikkaus Oy is the only company permitted to offer gambling services. Penningautomatförening (PAF) holds the same position and responsibility in the self-governing Åland Islands.

Except for betting on blood sports which is deemed animal cruelty, all forms of offline and online gambling are legal. As long as Veikkaus or PAF provides them.

Unlike many European countries, offshore gambling companies are not issued licences from Finland. This contradicts EU gambling directives that outline that EU countries should be allowed to offer their services in all member states.

Land-Based and Online Casinos

There are 16 land-based casinos scattered throughout Finland and most are in the largest cities. The capital is home to the popular Grand Casino Helsinki. 

Online casino gambling is legal but under monopoly control. On the mainland, Finnish online casino gambling is provided by Veikkaus. At the same time, PAF operates on the Åland Islands but also serves residents of the mainland. Over the years this has created tension between the two monopolies.

Offshore online gambling sites are not legally permitted to offer their services to residents, but many still accept new members from the country.

Playing Poker

Poker is Finland's most popular card game, but only two of the country's casinos run regular tournaments.

Online poker gambling is not offered by either Veikkaus or PAF, leaving residents with little choice but to join international casinos for gaming entertainment.

In-Person and Online Bingo Gambling

Bingo is legal and popular, with Veikkaus offering offline and online services. The state-owned company has sole control over offline games except charity and non-profit events, which are issued a licence to operate by Veikkaus.

Online bingo gambling is legal and offered by Veikkaus. Finnish people can also access offshore sites, though the country discourages this.

Purchasing Lottery Tickets

As with other forms of gambling, lotteries are also under monopoly control by Veikkaus. Tickets can be bought offline or online via the company's website.

Residents can also play online lottery games for real money via foreign sites. Again, this activity is not licensed by Veikkaus, with the government taking steps in recent years to prevent it.

Social Gambling and Online Crypto Casinos

Finland classes any activity that charges money for the chance to win anything of monetary value as gambling. While social casinos might offer members the ability to enjoy games with play chips, allowing users to purchase those chips could be construed as providing gambling services.

As long as loot boxes are free, they are not classed as gambling in Finland, but if you have to pay to open a box, then that would be illegal. The same applies to skins gambling, as the items being played for have a perceived monetary value.

Cryptocurrencies are classed as legal tender in Finland and are taxed the same as personal income from EUR. When it comes to online crypto gambling sites though - that is another matter. These are not permitted to accept residents from the country, though many still do.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Finland?

Yes, but only Veikkaus and PAF can offer services to residents. Horse race betting used to be the most popular activity in the country, but this has since been overtaken by football and ice hockey. The respective monopolies offer both offline and online sports betting in the country.

Finnish Gambling Age Restrictions

The legal minimum age is 18 and this is for all types of gambling, both in-person and online.

Gambling Tax Regulations in Finland

These consist of various charges based on the profits from the different offered activities. Veikkaus pays 12% tax on gross profits, 1.5% from slots and poker, 5% on bingo winnings and 30% on other gambling winnings and prizes. Finnish players are not taxed on their winnings as long as sites within the EEA have generated them, although it's uncertain how this is enforced in practice.

History of Gambling Laws in Finland

Gambling in Finland dates back to the 17th century and the activity was made illegal between 1899 and 1917.

Originally activities were controlled by three separate entities: the Finnish Slot Machine Association, Raha-automaattiyhdistys (RAY), Fintoto and Veikkaus. In 2017 the three companies merged to become Veikkaus.

On the Åland Islands, all gambling is controlled by the government-owned Penningautomatförening which was founded in 1966.

The Finnish Lotteries Act laid out the legalities of gambling in the country in 2001, with an amendment in 2022 further solidifying Finland's commitment to maintaining monopoly control within its borders.

Key Facts

• All forms of gambling are legal in Finland, but only via the state-owned Veikkaus Oy or PAF. Residents can enjoy online casino slots, card games and bingo via the respective companies' websites.

• The government takes an increasingly hardline approach to international online casinos though. This prevents them from advertising in the country and, in some cases, blocking their online gambling sites altogether.

• Some evidence suggests that the country may move to a licence-based system shortly.