Gambling

Monitoring gambling and its impacts is becoming increasingly important

With the new Gambling Act (10/2026), gambling operations will be opened to competition in July 2027. The impacts of the gambling system reform must be monitored particularly with regard to developments in supply, marketing, gambling, gambling-related harms, and public opinions, and using a before–after design where possible. Adolescents and young adults must be sufficiently taken into account as a special group when building the knowledge base.
 

Gambling is decreasing and becoming more occasional

Finns’ gambling has decreased in recent years, but at the same time gambling-related harms and gambling problems have increased. Gambling has become more occasional than before, and especially young adults are increasingly critical towards gambling.

In 2023, 70 percent of the population gambled, which corresponds to about 2.5 million people. In 2019, the corresponding figure was 78 percent. The number of people who gamble decreased among both women and men. Gambling also decreased in all age groups compared to 2019.

Gambling also clearly became more occasional: the most common pattern is to gamble less than once a month, whereas in 2015 gambling most commonly occurred weekly.

Gambling problems have become more common among men

In 2023, 4.2 percent of Finns had a gambling problem, whereas in previous studies the share was about three percent. This corresponds to about 151,000 people who experience either significant or mild gambling-related harms.

Gambling problems increased among men between 2019 and 2023. In the most recent study, 6.6 percent of men had a gambling problem, while the corresponding share among women was 1.8 percent.

Gambling problems are most concentrated among men and young adults, who also engage in the most harmful forms of gambling, such as fast-paced online games and slot machine games.

In 2023, 44 percent gambled online. Seven percent of Finns gambled on offshore sites, i.e., online gambling platforms outside Veikkaus, corresponding to about 251,000 people.

Gambling on online games offered by Paf (Ålands Penningautomatförening) increased from two percent to three percent from 2019 to 2023, while there was no change in gambling on online games offered by foreign gambling companies.

Finns mainly have a negative attitude towards gambling 

Women’s attitudes have remained stable at each point of observation, whereas men’s attitudes have varied.

In the older age groups, i.e. those aged 45–59 and 60–74, attitudes towards gambling in the 2023 study were somewhat more positive compared to results from previous years.

In the younger age groups, attitudes have become more negative both in the short term and over a longer period.

In 2023, the majority of respondents (90%) considered that people should not be encouraged to gamble, and 61 percent felt that there are too many opportunities to gamble. At the same time, 58 percent were of the opinion that people have the right to gamble if they wish.

About the data in more detail 

Statistical report 15/2024 Main results, 16.4.2024. THL (Julkari) (in Finnish)
Gambling in the Sotkanet Statistics and Indicator Bank 

Source 

Finnish Gambling

Update schedule

The timing of the next release is not yet known.

Description of the statistics 

Gambling is examined through a population survey that reviews gambling, gambling problems, as well as attitudes and opinions related to gambling. A random sample of 15–74-year-olds residing in mainland Finland is selected for the study.

The study Gambling among Finns has been conducted every four years since 2003. The most recent study was carried out in 2023, and 5,977 people participated. The 2023 data were collected through a combination of an online and postal survey as well as telephone interviews. In earlier years, only telephone interviews were used.

Background information 

Aineistokuvaus (Aineistokatalogi) 
Privacy notice (in Finnish)