Veikkaus Supports Floorball Match-Fixing Investigation in Finland
The four-year inquiry uncovered extensive betting violations involving players and officials in Finland’s top floorball leagues.
Findings of the Investigation
A four-year investigation led by the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (SUEK), with assistance from state-owned operator Veikkaus, has uncovered potential match-fixing activities within Finland’s professional floorball competitions. The probe focused on suspicious betting activity in the F-League and Inssi-Divari tournaments between 2021 and 2025.
The investigation reviewed betting data from 114 players and club officials, who collectively placed over a thousand bets on domestic floorball matches. According to SUEK, ten individuals – including players, managers, and sporting directors – were responsible for 80% of these violations. Some placed bets on their own teams, including wagers on losses.
One player allegedly made 184 bets totaling more than €8,600, while another reportedly used multiple betting accounts to disguise his activity. Jouko Ikonen, Head of SUEK Investigations, stated:
“The large number of people who placed bets and the number of bets placed indicate that the illegal activity has been extensive and long-lasting.”
“Based on the information provided by Veikkaus, there has also been reason to suspect that one F-League player used his own game account as well as the game account of a person in his close circle to place bets of significant value in euros. However, SUEK’s powers are not sufficient to investigate the matter.”
Potential Insider Information Leaks
The report also highlighted two instances of alleged insider information being shared – one during a 2024 Floorball World Cup match between Finland and Norway, and another involving a domestic F-League match between Classic and SPV.
In the World Cup case, Veikkaus detected “abnormal” betting activity before official team lineups were announced, raising concerns that information had been leaked prematurely. However, all individuals questioned denied any wrongdoing.
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Regarding the Classic-SPV match, SUEK found that a press release was issued earlier than regulations allow but concluded that it may have been the result of human error. The Finnish Floorball Federation will now determine whether disciplinary action is warranted. Jouko Ikonen added:
“SUEK’s rights and possibilities to use more comprehensive investigative methods in such violations are not possible,” Ikonen said, subtly giving the Finnish Floorball Federation a potential course of action.”
“Examining phones or other communication devices would be one way to clarify suspicions about sharing inside information.”
The investigation comes at a pivotal time for Finland’s gambling market. As the country prepares to transition from Veikkaus’ current monopoly system to an open licensing model in 2027, scrutiny of integrity and compliance within sports betting is intensifying.
Veikkaus’ cooperation with SUEK underscores its commitment to transparency and fair play – principles that will remain central as Finland reshapes its gambling landscape.
