Press Releases
Finland: Prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased – gambling problems still as common as before
According to a study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the prevalence of “at-risk gambling” which causes individual mild harms has decreased in Finland. The 2019 study indicated that 11 per cent of the Finnish population had engaged in at-risk level gambling in the past 12 months. In the previous study, conducted in 2015, the proportion of at-risk gamblers was 15 per cent. The prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased in both men and women.
At-risk gambling refers to gambling which causes some individual harms and often precedes the development of problem gambling. According to the 2019 study, three per cent of the Finnish population, meaning approximately 112,000 people, had experienced gambling problems. The proportion of such individuals has remained the same since 2007.
According to the study, 1.4 per cent of Finns – around 52,000 people – suffered in 2019 from probable pathological gambling, which is the most severe form of problematic gambling.
In contrast, the study indicates that gambling without indentified problems has increased. The number of gamblers remained the same between 2015 and 2019, but changes took place in the frequency of gambling: the proportion of Finns who gambled less often than once a month increased, whereas the proportion of those gambling more often than this decreased.
The past-year prevalence of gambling at least one game type among the respondents was 78.4 per cent.
Online gambling has become more common
In 2019, one third of the respondents (36.3 %) had been gambling online. The proportion of online gamblers increased by 12.7 percentage points from 2015.
At the same time, the proportion of those who gambled games offered by foreign operators increased from 3.3 to 5.4 per cent. Almost all gamblers (98.1 %) who had gambled games offered by an operator other than Veikkaus Oy had also gambled Veikkaus Oy’s games.
In 2019, 2.5 per cent of the gamblers accounted for one half of the total gambling expenditure. This means that of the 2,917,000 people living in mainland Finland who participated in gambling in 2019, 72,000 people spent one half of the total expenditure of that year. Veikkaus Oy’s share of the online gambling expenditure was 83.6 per cent, while the other game operators accounted for 16.4 per cent.
“Only a relatively few people gamble games offered by operators other than Veikkaus, when compared to the number of those gambling Veikkaus games. Then again, there is big money involved in foreign online games. Therefore, it is now important to monitor how the closing of the Finnish slot machines due to the coronavirus epidemic affects online gambling”, says THL Senior Researcher Anne Salonen.
One in five Finns has someone with problematic gambling in their immediate social circle
Just over one fifth (21.1 %) of the respondents reported that at least one person in their immediate social circle had demonstrated problematic gambling. This means that around 790,000 persons are affected by someone close to them having a gambling problem, and this proportion has increased.
According to Salonen, the result may also indicate that Finns have become more aware of gambling problems, and the issue is now discussed more openly and boldly than before.
Since 2007, THL has been monitoring gambling, the prevalence of gambling problems, and the attitudes and opinions related to gambling by carrying out a population survey every four years among Finnish people aged from 15 to 74. In 2019, the study was participated in by 3994 Finns. Statistics Finland conducted the interviews over the telephone. The study was carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and commissioned and financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (section 52 of the Lotteries Act).
THL publishes the Finnish Gambling 2019 results in stages; the first step now is to publish the main results concerning gambling and gambling problems. The results concerning the attitudes and opinions related to gambling will be published later this year.
Source: thl.fi
Powered by WPeMatico
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced that its market leading portfolio of games are now available with Starcasino.nl in the Netherlands.
The news reinforces Play’n GO’s position in the Dutch regulated iGaming market and will see Starcasino.nl’s players enjoy global smash hit titles such as Book of Dead, Reactoonz and Fire Joker.
Play’n GO’s titles are already live with Starcasino in its home market of Belgium, where the brand enjoys a market leading position.
The strength of the Play’n GO portfolio has already proven to be a hit with the brand’s Belgian players and today’s announcement allows Starcasino to expand their offering in the Dutch market.
Henrik Gedda, Head of Regional Sales Western Europe at Play’n GO: commented “Starcasino is one of the pedigree casino brands in Western Europe and we’re thrilled to expand our partnership to now cover the important Dutch market too. Our games have been a hit with Starcasino in Belgium and I’m certain that Dutch players will really enjoy what’s coming up on our roadmap in addition to our world class portfolio.
Pieter van den Bos, Director at Starcasino added: “Play’n GO’s reputation is second to none and they share the same values that Starcasino prides itself on – a commitment to quality and providing an entertainment-first, responsible gaming environment. We are excited to bring our players in the Netherlands the world-class entertainment and thrilling gameplay that Play’n GO is renowned for.”
The post Play’n GO games go live in the Netherlands with Starcasino.nl appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reflex Gaming, the UK’s largest independently owned omni-channel game supplier, is heading deep into the wilderness this August with the launch of Power Pack, a fiercely fun wolf-themed slot powered by Yggdrasil and designed to lead the pack across all verticals.
Power Pack invites players to follow the howls through the forest in search of big wins and even bigger thrills. With a 6×4 reel setup, 32 paylines, and the chance to win up to 10,000x, this game blends nature, tension and teeth into one unforgettable adventure.
Wins land from the left-most reel, with three or more identical symbols triggering a payout – but it’s the layered features that really bring the bite.
Players can trigger Free Spins by landing Moon symbols on reels 2–5 with one or more Power Pack symbols on reel 1 and/or 6. The Moons award Free Spins, and multiple Power Pack symbols multiply the total. Each Power Pack symbol boosts a persistent win multiplier up to x44. The feature can retrigger and includes chances to hit Cash Link or Wolf Run bonuses.
In the Cash Link feature, land a cash link symbol on reels 2–5 with a Power Pack symbol on reel 1 and/or 6 to trigger this hold and spin feature. Coin Prizes lock in, and respins reset with each new coin or power pack symbol. When finished, all coin prizes are awarded for every Power Pack symbol in view. Fill the central grid to land the MEGA pot.
Finally, there’s the Wolf Run Modifier, this randomly triggered bonus adds stacked Wilds to one or more reels during any spin. The background shifts to a moonlit forest as the wolves summon full-reel Wilds, boosting win potential. It can hit during base game or Free Spins for sudden, dramatic payouts.
Built for players who like their games wild and full of bite, Power Pack rewards symbol matches from the left-most reel and ramps up the excitement with layered bonus features that keep every spin fresh.
Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, said: “With Power Pack, we’ve tapped into something raw and compelling – the primal excitement of being part of the pack. The theme, the pacing, the visuals – they all come together to create a game that’s both instinctive and rewarding. We’re proud to be launching this title through Yggdrasil and can’t wait to see players embrace the hunt.”
The post Reflex Gaming’s Power Pack leads the pack this August appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM PORTFOLIO WITH THREE NEW TITLES: eBOXING, eVOLLEYBALL, AND WORLD-FIRST eKABADDI
Leading sportsbook supplier BETBY has further grown its proprietary esports feed, Betby Games, with the addition of three new e-sim titles: eBoxing, eVolleyball, and the world’s first-ever virtual version of Kabaddi, eKabaddi. With this release, the Betby Games portfolio now features 22 titles, continuing to set the standard in high-frequency, localised betting content.
The newly launched titles reinforce BETBY’s strategy of diversifying its esports feed across both mainstream and niche sporting verticals, offering tailored content for specific regions while maintaining global appeal.
eKabaddi represents a historic industry first: a fully simulated and exclusive title made for fans of the sport, with a special focus on Asia. Launching in sync with the upcoming Season 12 of the Indian Pro Kabaddi League, this new addition features two tournaments: the Indian Pro League and a World Cup. With over 7,500 monthly matches, two 5-minute halves per game, and a unique real-sport integration, eKabaddi offers operators a powerful way to maintain 24/7 fan engagement and retention, even between real-world fixtures.
eBoxing brings iconic fighters to the virtual ring — from modern-day stars like Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to true legends such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and the Klitschko brothers — creating matchups never possible in real life, but now made reality through Betby Games. The title features fast-paced matchups across Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight tournaments, with each fight limited to a single 2-minute round and pre-match betting available on over 20,000 monthly events, making it perfectly suited for short-session engagement and high-intensity action.
eVolleyball launches with four tournaments showcasing national teams in a one-set-to-25-points format. Drawing from the South American Championship and CEV EuroVolley (for both men and women), each match lasts approximately 10 minutes. The title is expected to generate 15,000 events per month, adding variety to the Betby Games lineup.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “We’re heading into the new sports season at full speed and pushing the Betby Games portfolio to new heights. Each of the new titles is unique and important for the market, we’re filling the live content gap across all directions. The launch of eKabaddi shows that for the Betby Games team, nothing is impossible.”
BETBY’s proprietary Betby Games ecosystem now includes 22 titles, 80+ tournaments, 8,000+ betting markets, and supports over 400,000 monthly matches, providing operators with an unparalleled selection of fast, flexible, and scalable esports content.
The post BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM PORTFOLIO WITH THREE NEW TITLES: eBOXING, eVOLLEYBALL, AND WORLD-FIRST eKABADDI appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Asia7 days agoMelBet Announces New Partnership with СPL 2024 Champion Saint Lucia Kings
-
Alon Segev6 days agoSegev LLP Celebrates 10 Years of Business-Focused Legal Innovation
-
Australia5 days ago
IGT to Showcase Localised Linked Games and Gaming Systems Advancements at 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Illinois Gaming Board Announces Enhanced, Uniformed Advertising Rules for Casinos, Video Gaming and Sports Wagering
-
NYSE:RSI5 days ago
Rush Street Interactive to Participate at the Oppenheimer Technology, Internet & Communications Conference
-
Brazil6 days ago
SOFTSWISS Strengthens Regulated Market Presence in LatAm with Full Product Certification in Brazil
-
Australia5 days ago
Light & Wonder to Participate in the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
NCPG Celebrates Senate Action on Military Gambling Addiction Research
