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
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Casino Guru, the leading online casino database and advocate for responsible gambling, has taken a further look into the success of the Gamalyze campaign it ran on the occasion of Safer Gambling Week 2024.
Hosted as a joint effort and collaboration with Mindway AI, a respected data science company with a particular focus on analyzing gambling behavior and integrating seamless technology-driven consumer protection measures.
The Gamalyze game, which sought to analyze and inform consumers about their gambling habits, was launched by 10,479 visitors, Casino Guru News previously reported, and 7,116 of the launched games were completed through the end.
Now, Casino Guru has dug into the newly surfaced data the collaboration has revealed and has carefully studied feedback from the campaign to help improve future iterations of the ambitious player protection initiative, discovering that the actual results were better than what was previously thought to be the case.
A total of 279,000 people saw the Gamalyze campaign on the Casino Guru’s website, with 65% of the people who visited the game detail deciding to play it – or some 13,000. Casino Guru was not only able to calibrate its initial numbers for how many people visited the game, or played it, but also derived other vitally important metrics.
First, the number of high-risk players has dropped to 15.6%, down from 17% in the previous campaign’s iteration. In contrast, the number of high-risk players, according to overall data, is 17.3%.
Upon completing the game, the players received advice and feedback on how to improve their gambling behavior.
Another interesting trend that Casino Guru noted was that for the most part, players were able to accurately predict the level of risk they were taking.
For example, only 15.6% of all players had underestimated their risk level – the same as the prior iteration of the Gamalyze campaign. In contrast, the overall average number is 15.2%. These players had too received advice on how to improve their gambling behavior and avoid unnecessary risk-taking.
51.7% of all players showed signs of normal loss sensitivity, which was down from 61% in the previous iteration of the campaign, indicating that players during this campaign showed less concerns over increased losses.
These findings highlight the meaningful impact of the Gamalyze campaign and reinforce the value of data-driven responsible gambling initiatives.
Encouraged by these results, Casino Guru and Mindway AI remain committed to refining their approach, expanding their reach, and continuously improving player protection efforts.
Each iteration presents new opportunities for Casino Guru and Mindway to empower consumers to make responsible gambling decisions.
The post Casino Guru breaks down Gamalyze Campaign data and success appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gentoo Media appoints Paul Gatt as General Counsel to strengthen legal and compliance strategy
Paul Gatt, who has played a crucial role in the company’s strategic expansion and corporate transition, will lead Gentoo Media’s legal and compliance function, reporting directly to CEO Jonas Warrer.
His promotion marks an important step in the company’s evolution, reinforcing its ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes while supporting M&A activity and revenue-generating opportunities.
“Paul has been instrumental in shaping our legal framework during a period of rapid growth and strategic acquisitions,” said Jonas Warrer, CEO of Gentoo Media. “His leadership, legal expertise, and deep understanding of complex regulatory landscapes have been invaluable. We are confident that, as General Counsel, he will continue to steer our legal and compliance strategy with precision and foresight.”
Since joining Gentoo Media in 2022, Gatt has played a key role in supporting the company’s expansion, working closely with the corporate development team on M&A transactions and ensuring the seamless integration of acquired businesses. He was also instrumental in guiding Gentoo Media through its corporate separation from Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), securing a smooth legal and regulatory transition.
“I am thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for Gentoo,” said Paul Gatt. “Having been part of the company’s journey over the past few years, I look forward to continuing to support its growth and working alongside our talented team to navigate the evolving media and regulatory landscape.”
Gatt brings a wealth of legal expertise, having previously served as Legal Counsel at Lombard Bank and as a legal associate at Fenech & Fenech Advocates, specialising in corporate law. He is an Executive Committee member of the Malta IT Law Association and an Affiliate member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).
He holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta and is a qualified advocate admitted to the Maltese Bar. Additionally, he is an alumnus of the London School of Economics and the University of Glasgow, where he pursued further studies in sports, business, and corporate law.
The post Gentoo Media appoints Paul Gatt as General Counsel to strengthen legal and compliance strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Scientific Games has been named one of Jombay’s WOW Workplaces of 2025 in the Information Technology, Information Technology Enabled Services and Global Capability Center category at its Bangalore, India, location. This prestigious accolade reaffirms the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and inclusivity. The award highlights the global lottery leader’s dedication to providing an exceptional environment where employees thrive personally and professionally.
The WOW Workplace Awards are an annual listing of organizations with the most WOW reviews. The award substantiates how “great,” “best” or “exceptional” a company is through testimonials and feedback across the web (including employee review websites) using Jombay’s AI engine.
Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, said, “Being recognized as one of Jombay’s WOW Workplaces is an incredible honor and a true reflection of the remarkable culture our team in India has built. Our India team’s relentless dedication to innovation and excellence is inspiring and helps fuel our success with employees and customers worldwide.”
Scientific Games’ Bangalore operations, established in 2015, recently expanded to a new, state-of-the-art facility, underscoring the company’s growth and investment in its workforce. The center is a hub for research and development, software innovation, quality assurance and technology operations, contributing significantly to the company’s global mission.
Mahesh Nanjundappa, Managing Director of Scientific Games India, added, “This recognition is a testament to our employees’ hard work, creativity and commitment to making Scientific Games a fantastic workplace. At the heart of our success is the inspiring environment we’ve cultivated where every team member feels valued and empowered to achieve their best.”
Scientific Games operates across five continents, delivering a comprehensive range of retail and digital lottery solutions and lottery sports betting products and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries.
The post Scientific Games India Recognized as One of Jombay’s 2025 WOW Workplaces appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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