Finland Gambling Sites and Law & Taxes
While Finland is a member of the European Union, the government works outside of the framework of the Union’s accepted gambling practices. State monopolies on gambling are frowned down upon by the EU but Finland has managed to operate its gambling industry as a state-run monopoly. In other words, Finland gambling sites and law are strictly controlled by the government.
While almost all forms of wagering are legal here, the Finnish gambling laws ban international operators from advertising here although Finnish online gamers are not prohibited from placing bets with foreign operators.
Veikkaus is the company that runs the lottery and bingo. Fintoto controls all horse racing and RAY is in charge of all casino and other gaming activities. All of these entities are essentially government owned and the official reason for this is to prevent problem gambling, abuse, and criminal activities within the gambling industry. Illegal operators face severe punishment and the industry is tightly controlled.
Veikkaus is the company that runs the lottery and bingo. Fintoto controls all horse racing and RAY is in charge of all casino and other gaming activities.
All of these entities are essentially government-owned and the official reason for this is to prevent problem gambling, abuse, and criminal activities within the gambling industry.
Illegal operators face severe punishment and the industry is tightly controlled.
- 1History of gambling Finland
- 2What are the Best Finnish Gambling Sites and Promotions?
- 3Picking the best Finnish betting sites
- 4Finland gambling sites payment methods: best options
- 5Tips & tricks to use at gambling sites in Finland
- 6Safe and secure Finnish gambling
- 7 What to expect from Finland gambling sites and law?
- 8FAQ about Finnish gambling laws & sites
Top 10 Gambling Sites for Finland in 23 April 2024 – Updated List
History of gambling Finland
All forms of gambling were banned in Finland until the 1920s. However, the government soon realized that this did not work because Finnish players preferred to go to Sweden, where gambling was free at that time, to place bets and play casino games. In order to keep the money spent by the citizens in the country, lotteries and horse racing betting were made legal in the 1920s.
In 1938, RAY (Finland’s Slot Machine Association) was established. In January 2017, all gambling-related agencies in the country were brought together under the non-profit betting agency Veikkaus and Fintoto, and the new agency that emerged was named Veikkaus. In this respect, the Finnish gambling history is reminiscent of Norway gambling sites and laws and Estonia gambling sites and law.
Finland gambling sites laws and regulation
The Finnish gambling market is considered to be very tightly regulated. The state maintains a monopoly on betting operations and they appear determined to run a clean industry. While this strict control obviously results in large profits for the government, they take underage and problem gambling seriously as well as fair play and customer protection. Finnish gaming license holders are held to very high standards.
Gambling is perfectly legal in Finland. The legal age for placing a bet is 18. While the country hosts 2 casinos, there are a number of outlets at which Finnish residents can partake in slots, lottery, bingo, and sports betting. Foreign online casinos may accept wagers from residents but the operators are forbidden to advertise their services here.
What are the Best Finnish Gambling Sites and Promotions?
As mentioned, the state has control of almost all gaming activities in Finland and does not allow foreign operators to advertise in this jurisdiction. However, Finnish gambling laws do not prevent Finnish gamers from accessing and placing bets with foreign gambling companies.
As such, there are many international gambling companies that offer Finnish customers a host of valuable and easy to claim bonuses. Stake Sports offers Finnish online players 10% rakeback bonus. STS Sports will give new clients $100 in casino bonuses while 22Bet, 20Bet, Betsson, and Nordicbet have hundreds of Euros in casino bonuses. Powbet has up to $200 in bonuses waiting.
Many Finnish residents also enjoy online poker. If you are in this category then it is in your best interests to join Unibet .They offer Finnish poker players €200 while William Hill and Expekt have €1,500 bonuses for the taking. Want a €100 bonus for betting? They are found at Campeonbet and Zigzag Sports. Mozzart and Mostbet will make you smile with their amazing offers for new players.
By no means are the bonuses limited to these. Many more can be easily claimed by visiting Gambling Judge’s promotions section. You will find more casinos, poker, bingo, and many other types of great bonuses. You may even want to opt for alternatives such as German betting sites, where you can place German bets with no commission charged.
Picking the best Finnish betting sites
If you want to play at the best Finland gambling sites, here are a couple of pointers that can help you:
- License is the most important thing. All legal Finland betting sites and bookmakers are licensed by a prestigious agency, such as the Malta Gaming Authority. Make sure the website is licensed.
- Do not stick to a specific country and/or continent. The internet is your playground, and you can pick freely: There are thousands of options. Check our gambling sites by country list to make a fast start.
- Check the bonus for new members: By using it, you can create a solid foundation. However, make sure to check the bonuses for current members too. Also, we recommend playing at low-wagering casinos in Finland, such as Slots.io, so you can unlock your bonus funds as fast as possible.
- Make sure the bookmaker you picked offers several betting options and competitive odds for your favorite sports.
Popular games on Finland online casinos & gambling sites
While there are not too many gambling opportunities in Finland, Finnish players still love to gamble and they have favorite games too. In this respect, these are the most common types of games you can find at the best casino sites Finland:
Finland gambling sites payment methods: best options
So, which payment method is the most popular in Finland gambling sites? When a Finnish player is looking to make a deposit or withdrawal at an online gaming site, the most commonly used and accepted method is by major credit card or debit card. As a member of the European Union, Finland’s official currency is the Euro and it is accepted at all betting establishment on land and is a widely accepted currency option at internet wagering establishments.
These include Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. Prepaid cards like EntroPay and PaySafe are also widely used and accepted. Neteller, Skrill, and WebMoney are very popular eWallet payment options while Instabank, Euteller, and direct bank transfers are also used. For e-wallets, we recommend checking our PayPal bookmakers and betting sites list.
And for bank transfers, you should check our guide for Rapid Transfer bookmakers and betting sites. Be sure to check the website to find out what payment options are available for Finnish players. You can even bet using phone bill or use Trustly betting sites to make a deposit & withdrawal.
Tips & tricks to use at gambling sites in Finland
- Make sure the bookmaker supports Euro. Likewise, use Euro to make a deposit or withdraw. If you use another currency, there may be exchange fees. All the names in our list of the best Finland gambling sites support Euro.
- Prefer bookmakers that offer a native mobile app: Mobile betting is much more practical and fun. Plus, mobile bettors get better bonuses most of the time.
- Always use the same payment method for deposits and withdrawals. If you use different methods, the bookmaker may flag you as “suspicious”.
How to deposit & withdraw at online gambling sites for Finlanda
Safe and secure Finnish gambling
So, how safe is betting on foreign bookmakers in Finland? Contrary to popular belief, gambling abroad for Finns is a safe and problem-free experience, as long as you pick the right bookmaker. While there is a monopoly on gaming in the country, the government has no restrictions on offshore & international operators. Likewise, it is not a “crime” to play at those sites: You are completely free. Just make sure to pick the correct bookmaker and use our list of the best Finland gambling sites for that purpose.
What to expect from Finland gambling sites and law?
PROS
- Gambling is completely legal
- No gambling taxes
- Offshore operators are not restricted
CONS
- Gambling is a monopoly
- There are almost no local options
FAQ about Finnish gambling laws & sites
Gamblers in Finland do not have to pay taxes on gambling winnings with the exception of the lottery. Lottery winners must declare their prizes on their income tax. The gambling companies are faced with a series of taxes ranging from gross profits to the value of winnings.
You can use Euro, which is the official currency of Finland. Our recommended bookmakers and online casino Finland sites support other currencies too if you need to use them.
Best Finnish online casinos and bookmakers always offer mobile apps. However, since there are no local and independent operators in Finland, you need to use international casinos and bookies if you want to bet on mobile.
As can be expected, Finnish is the most common language at all gambling sites, top casinos sites Finland included. English and German are the other common options. It all depends on the operator: It can support even a dozen languages.
Decimal odds (i.e., 1.75, 2.80, 3.20, etc.) are the most popular format in gambling sites in Finland. However, it is still possible to switch to a different format.
The gambling department of the National Police Board (Arpajaishallinto) and the Ministry of the Interior are in charge of all types of regulated gambling in Finland.
Check our list of Finland gambling sites and pick one
This is everything we can tell you about Finland gambling sites and law: You can pick a website and start playing. Start with our list of the best Finland gambling sites and check our other recommendations too. We personally tested all international operators and gambling sites in Finland to pick the best ones for you. Create your account, claim your bonus, and start playing: good luck out there!
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