FCCA researchers have examined the amount of money spent outside Veikkaus’s state monopoly system and the extent to which those with gambling problems play games outside the state monopoly system.
Veikkaus has a state monopoly on organising gambling in Finland. Various different estimates have been presented of the amount of gambling happening outside the state monopoly system. FCCA researchers have calculated that gambling outside the state monopoly system amounted to approximately 520–590 million euros in 2021. The amount corresponds to approximately 30% of all money spent on gambling in Finland and approximately 50% of the money spent on online gambling.
Problem gambling is more common outside the state monopoly system
Gambling is particularly common among young men. Those who gamble outside the state monopoly system spend significantly more money on gambling than the rest of the population. Those who mainly gamble outside the system gambled with up to over 10,000 euros a year, while those who only played Veikkaus games gambled with approximately 340 euros a year.
Problem gambling is clearly more common among players who have played games outside the state monopoly system. In the early 2010s, the extent to which those with gambling problems gambled in the state monopoly system and outside of it was roughly the same, but the proportion of those who primarily play Veikkaus games has decreased significantly in the 2020s.
"On the basis of our research, we can conclude that the state monopoly system’s ability to prevent and reduce negative effects of gambling has deteriorated significantly. The impacts of the measures to be taken to correct the situation must be carefully and comprehensively assesse."
FCCA researchers continue research related to the gambling market by, for example, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different options for organising gambling.