Gambling on the increase among Finns
Gambling has become even more popular among Finns. According to the Finnish Gambling Survey 2011 carried out on behalf of the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 78% of Finns have gambled in some form during the last 12 months. This figure is equivalent to approximately 3.1 million Finns in the age range 15-74. The corresponding figure for 2007 was 74%.
According to the questionnaire, the age limit of 18 on gambling has reduced under-age gambling and gambling-related harms. Whereas in 2007 66% of young people had gambled, in 2011 this figure was 47%. Because the new age limit was introduced gradually during 2011, the 15-17 year-olds who answered the survey had had an opportunity to gamble legally in the previous 12 months.
Finns spend an average of EUR 14 a week on gambling. Respondents in the lowest income groups, those who were unemployed or laid off, those who gambled several times a week, those who gambled on the internet and those classified as problem gamblers spent a larger proportion of their available income on gambling on average.
The number of problem gamblers has fallen slightly. On the basis of the survey 2.7% of Finns aged between 15 and 74 were classified as problem gamblers, which is slightly lower than in 2007 (3.1%). Problem gambling was clearly more common among men (4.3%) than among women (1.2%). Although the number of young problem gamblers had fallen, problem gambling is still more common among those aged 15-34 than among those aged over 35.
The survey also examined respondents' attitudes to gambling. Over two-thirds of respondents thought gambling was a serious problem. Six out of ten through that gambling problems had increased in recent years. Three-quarters of respondents thought that the Finnish model, in which gambling is run by gambling companies organised by the state in a monopoly, is a good way of limiting gambling-related harms.
The Finnish 2011 gambling survey interviewed 4,484 individuals in the age range 15-74. The survey follows on from the surveys carried out in 2003 and 2007. The 2011 survey was designed by the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare and was carried out by Taloustutkimus Oy. The aim of the survey was to investigate Finnish gambling behaviour, the prevalence of problem gambling and attitudes to gambling.
Under the current government programme, monitoring gambling-related harms, research, prevention and treatment are to be boosted to protect the entire population, and children and young people in particular. The aim is to develop the current gambling monopoly system by limiting gambling which takes place abroad and to encourage the collaboration of authorities, organisations, gaming communities and research institutes in preventing gambling-related harms.
Further information
Kari Haavisto, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 (0)9 160 74177, firstname.surname@stm.fi
Pekka Hakkarainen, Director General, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), tel. +358 (0)20 610 7161, firstname.surname@thl.fi
Tuomo Turja, Research Director, Taloustutkimus Oy, tel. +358 (0)9 7585 1208,
firstname.surname@taloustutkimus.fi