Finnish Committee Warns Gambling Reform Could Increase Harm
Finland’s Social Affairs and Health Committee has raised concerns about the government’s plan to open the gambling market to competition in 2026. The committee believes the proposed changes could increase gambling-related harm and place more pressure on public health services.
Committee Reviews Market Liberalization Plan
On May 14, the Social Affairs and Health Committee shared its opinion on Government Proposal 16/2025. The plan aims to replace Veikkaus’s monopoly with a license-based system. Lawmakers argue that the monopoly no longer works as gambling has moved online and outside national control. The government wants more gambling activity to take place under legal supervision and claims this will reduce harm.
The committee agrees that better oversight is needed. However, it criticizes the proposal for lacking strong enough safeguards. The draft law includes tools like mandatory ID checks, payment limits, gambling blocks, and a ban on gambling with borrowed money. It also requires operators to monitor player behavior and limit harmful play.
Despite these efforts, many experts told the committee the plan does not go far enough. They warned that the reform could actually increase harm and raise public costs.
Stricter Rules and Higher Gambling Age Proposed
The committee stressed that gambling is not an ordinary product. It can lead to addiction and harm that often spreads to families and communities. The lawmakers called for tighter rules and better enforcement.
They also asked the Administration Committee to consider raising the minimum gambling age to 20. The committee emphasized the need for enough funding to monitor and enforce the new law.
Dissenting Opinions and Next Steps
Two dissenting views accompanied the opinion. One came from the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Left Alliance. The other was from the Centre Party. These groups raised concerns about different parts of the proposal.
The Administration Committee will now continue reviewing the draft law. It has already received input from several other committees. Once the Constitutional Law Committee gives its opinion, the Administration Committee will prepare a final report. Parliament will then vote on the proposal.