MSAH working group: 18-year age limit on game machine use
An MSAH working group has recommended that gambling legislation should be amended to place an 18-year age limit on all forms of gambling and that there should be an identification system introduced to all such gaming to monitor age limit compliance.
The group also suggests that gambling images be banned from advertising. There would also be more measures to ensure better oversight of existing forms of legal gambling.
The working group’s point of departure is the harm caused by gambling in social welfare, health and financial contexts. The aim of te proposed changes to legislation is to reduce the problems caused by gambling.
The group submitted its report to MSAH Permanent Secretary Kari Välimäki in mid-January.
One of the problems faced by efforts to cut the harm caused by gambling is the existence of a mix of forms of gambling, some of which comply with the law, others of which do not. The working group wants government to target illegal forms of gambling, such as so-called distance gambling accessible on the internet.