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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AGS is thrilled to announce that its innovative real-money online slot game, 3x Ultra Diamond
, developed by AGSi—AGS’ Interactive division—has won the Top Performing New Online Slot Game award at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards. The prestigious award, presented at the February 27, 2025 ceremony at Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, recognizes the game’s exceptional success and its extraordinary impact in the rapidly evolving online gaming landscape.
3x Ultra Diamond is a high-volatility, 3×3 slot game with 9 selectable lines, offering multiple ways for players to win. Developed by AGSi’s in-house online game studio, the game allows players to increase their potential for massive payouts by adjusting their bet per line, which also scales the jackpots. The exciting features include multiple tiers of WILD symbols and dynamic watermark multipliers, which can significantly boost line wins. Jackpots are triggered when players land three WILD symbols of different tiers on a played payline—unlocking thrilling rewards. With classic symbols like Diamonds, BARs, and Sevens, combined with innovative gameplay mechanics, 3x Ultra Diamond delivers an electrifying experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats.
Since its launch, 3x Ultra Diamond has quickly become a standout title in the online gaming space. It debuted in the July 2024 Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) U.S. Online Game Performance Report, where it soared to the top, ranking #1 in both the “New Top Game Ranks – Overall” and “New Top Game Ranks – Slots” categories. It also earned a Top 5 spot in the “Top Game Ranks – Overall” category. Most recently, the game was honored as a Top Game Spotlight in the February 2025 EKG U.S. Online Game Performance Report, a testament to its enduring popularity and impressive performance.
This award marks another milestone for AGSi, further solidifying its reputation for delivering cutting-edge, in-house developed online content that push the boundaries of player engagement and entertainment.
The post AGS Wins Top Performing New Online Slot Game at 2025 EKG Slot Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
OddsMatrix, EveryMatrix’s sportsbook and odds feed business, has further enhanced its premium sports content offering by partnering with micro-markets provider Kero Gaming.
The collaboration will see OddsMatrix integrate Kero’s suite of traditional and contextual football led micro markets into its sportsbook and feed coverage, with basketball, baseball, and American football to follow later this year.
These rapid micro-markets will broaden OddsMatrix’s coverage of 170,000+ monthly live betting events and 650+ bet types across its ‘always-on’ sportsbook.
Kero content will supplement OddsMatrix’s existing multi-sport Fast Markets product offering sportsbook and odds feed customers real-time, instant betting options across a variety of individual game moments.
By blending its proprietary Fast Markets with Kero’s micro-betting output, OddsMatrix will further empower its growing, global tier-1 client base with a differentiated and dynamic live betting offering.
Tor Skeie, CEO, OddsMatrix, said: “Integrating with Kero Gaming adds another layer to our comprehensive premium sportsbook and feed coverage.
“Kero have been fundamental figures in the growth of micro-betting and we are thrilled to integrate their content into our ‘always-on’ sportsbook.
“We’re passionate about empowering our loyal customers with technology, tools and content that enable them to differentiate, and this partnership will help support that goal.”
Tomash Devenishek, CEO, Kero Gaming, said: “Collaborating with EveryMatrix is a natural fit for Kero, as both companies share a commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions for operators and bettors alike.
“This partnership enables us to integrate our cutting-edge micro-betting technology with EveryMatrix’s powerful platform, creating new opportunities for engagement and excitement.”
The post OddsMatrix grows micro-market coverage with Kero Gaming integration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Rapidly Expanding Content provider takes players on a trip to Wonderland in Alice WonderLuck
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming is thrilled to announce the launch of Alice WonderLuck. Inspired by the whimsical world of Lewis Caroll’s iconic novel, Alice Wonderluck invites players to conjure up some magic on the reels.
Alice WonderLuck plunges players into a vibrant reimagining of Wonderland, where a series of familiar characters are given a fresh, digital makeover. The classic tale’s creative and slightly off-kilter atmosphere has been brought to life perfectly with an enchanting soundtrack.
Adding to the slot’s immersive experience, Alice is positioned by the reels and will react to in-game events. She is on hand to support players whenever they need it, helping to drive engagement and keep them in the thick of the action.
The fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland is renowned for its mystery and surprises, and BGaming has tapped into this with the game’s Mystery Symbol feature. The symbols can land during any base game spin, heightening anticipation and creating suspense. They can also turn into Golden Mystery symbols, triggering the Coin feature with different multipliers and Collect symbols.
At the start of the Free Spins round, players enter the Choose Card round. Here, they encounter 16 face-down cards and can turn a select number over to uncover additional features, including extra spins, low Mystery symbols, high Wilds, or multipliers.
Alice WonderLuck emphasizes player choice, offering two differently priced bonus buy features for an improved entertainment experience. For 100x their stake, players can trigger the spins with at least three extra features, and for 250x, they will be triggered with five.
Players who enjoy high stakes will also love the optional Try Your Luck game before the Free Spins game.
While many of these gameplay features may appear familiar, the beauty of Alice WonderLuck is that it provides a new perspective on them.
If the captivating gameplay isn’t enough to lure players down the rabbit hole, then the game’s powerful math model will be. Alice WonderLuck conjures up a maximum win of 10,000x of the stake and an attractive 97.00% RTP.
Yulia Aliakseyeva, Chief Product Officer at BGaming, said: “We are all huge fans of Alice in Wonderland at BGaming and have wanted to create a slot around the theme for a long time.
The magical world of the story lends itself perfectly to online slots, and it has allowed our team to get creative with the gameplay. We’ve blended familiar features with a fresh perspective, creating an enchanting game with some brilliant winning potential.”
The post Dive Into the Rabbit Hole with BGaming’s Alice WonderLuck appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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