Finnish Committee Opposes Key Gambling Reform Measures

The Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs and Health in Finland has issued a detailed and critical response to the Government’s proposed reform of the Gambling Act. The committee expressed significant reservations about the draft legislation, particularly regarding the plan to open Finland’s gambling market to private competition.

Their main concern is that the proposed changes, if enacted without careful safeguards, could lead to an increase in gambling-related harm, negatively impacting individuals, families, and communities. They emphasize that the foremost objective of any reform must be to protect players and reduce the risk of gambling addiction and associated social problems.

Raising the Gambling Age and Strengthening Regulatory Oversight

A key recommendation from the committee is to raise the legal gambling age from the current 18 years to 20 years. This proposed increase reflects growing awareness of the vulnerability of young adults to gambling’s addictive potential and the lasting effects it may have on their well-being.

The committee also stresses that gambling should not be treated as a standard consumer product given its unique risks, including addiction, financial harm, and social consequences. Consequently, they advocate for more stringent regulatory controls to mitigate these dangers. The committee calls for comprehensive assessments of how liberalizing the gambling market may affect public health and social welfare, insisting that regulatory frameworks must be robust enough to prevent an escalation in gambling harm.

Government’s Market Opening Plan Under Intense Legislative Scrutiny

The Finnish Government’s reform proposal seeks to dismantle the existing digital monopoly held by the state operator Veikkaus by introducing a licensing system that will allow private operators to enter the market beginning in 2027. The intention behind this plan is to create a more competitive market environment while steering players toward licensed and regulated operators and improving consumer protection measures.

However, the Parliamentary Committee’s response highlights a critical tension between the Government’s economic objectives and the need to ensure responsible gambling safeguards remain central to any changes. The Parliamentary Administrative Committee will now review the Government’s proposal and prepare its own report, which is expected to influence the legislative process significantly.

Comprehensive Gambling Reform Includes New Supervisory Authority and Player Safeguards

The debate over the Gambling Act reform is part of a broader overhaul of Finland’s gambling system designed to modernize regulatory frameworks while addressing public health concerns. This includes establishing a new supervisory authority tasked with overseeing gambling operators and enforcing compliance with regulations.

Additionally, the reform package proposes several player protection initiatives intended to minimize harm. These measures include mandatory identity verification to prevent underage gambling, expanded and more accessible self-exclusion options that empower individuals to control their gambling activities, and more restrictive advertising rules aimed at reducing gambling promotion exposure, especially to vulnerable populations. Collectively, these initiatives seek to create a regulatory environment that can accommodate a competitive market while maintaining a strong emphasis on social responsibility.

The Parliamentary Committee’s report reflects the complex challenge Finnish lawmakers face in balancing market liberalization with public health imperatives. Their recommendations make clear that despite pressures to open the gambling sector to private competition, the primary focus must remain on protecting individuals and communities from gambling-related harm. The committee’s cautious approach advocates for gradual and carefully controlled reform, ensuring that social and health considerations are not overshadowed by commercial interests.

Source:

Finnish committee rejects gambling reform proposal, gamblinginsider.com, May 15, 2025.