Gambling in the Nordic Countries

Gambling in the Nordic Countries is a collaborative project between Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, which comprehensively investigates cross-national differences in people’s gambling habits, gambling problems, harms experienced by gamblers and their close ones, and attitudes toward gambling. A large, nationally representative sample from each country will be collected simultaneously. This enables a more precise and reliable analysis of differences in gambling phenomena between the Nordic countries.

The population survey is underway

Data collection for the Gambling in the Nordic Countries survey is currently underway. The study is conducted as an online survey. The survey is open until 31 March 2026.

Take part if you receive an invitation

If you are included in the sample and receive an invitation, we hope you will respond. The results will support the work of social and healthcare professionals and researchers and provide evidence for gambling policy decision-making and public discussion.

The study seeks answers to questions such as:

• What do people in Finland think about gambling and gambling advertising?
• Should gambling be possible without restrictions?
• Is gambling beneficial or harmful?
• Are gambling-related problems more common in Finland than in Sweden or Norway?

Objectives

To examine differences in gambling and gambling-related harms across the Nordic countries. 

Implementation

The study will be conducted as an online survey. 

The research is carried out by THL in cooperation with the gambling authorities in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, the Public Health Agency of Sweden, and the universities in Iceland, Aalborg and Bergen. 

The Danish research company Epinion is responsible for data collection on behalf of the aforementioned authorities and universities. An invitation to participate in the survey will be sent to 30,000 randomly selected persons aged 18–80 residing in Finland. The invitees’ name and address details have been extracted from the Finnish Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

The study provides valuable information about differences between countries in opinions, attitudes, and the prevalence of gambling harms. The results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals, various reports, and popular science publications. Research data will be used for evaluation and planning of national and international social and health policy, and to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon of gambling-related harm. 

Partners

• Professor Ståle Pallesen, Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Norway, and Norwegian Competence Center for Gambling and Gaming Research, University of Bergen, Norway 
• Professor Søren Kristiansen, Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Aalborg, Denmark 
• Professor Daniel Olason, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland 
• Professor Maria Forslund, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden 

Funding

The study is carried out on commission from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, which also funds the Finnish part of the study. Under Section 52 of the Lotteries Act (1047/2001), the Ministry is responsible for preventing, monitoring and investigating gambling and the social, economic and health risks associated with it. The Ministry has entrusted implementation of this duty to THL. 

Contact information

Jussi Palomäki
Docent, Senior Researcher
Tel. +358 29 524 7330
E-mail:  [email protected]