RAY grant activities to be transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health at the beginning of 2017

Finland's Slot Machine Association's (RAY) grant activities will be transferred to the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA), which will be established under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA) will begin operating at the beginning of 2017.

STEA will prepare grant proposals and oversee, monitor and pay the grant services provided. In future, social welfare and health organisations will apply for grants from STEA, which will process grant applications and submit a yearly grant proposal to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

New gambling company influences change

The move to establish STEA under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is related to a new gambling company. Veikkaus, RAY and Fintoto will merge at the beginning of 2017 into a new gambling company, the name of which will be Veikkaus Oy.

As RAY's activities come to an end, the responsibility for social welfare and health organisation grants will be transferred to STEA.

More information on STEA and its activities will be available on its website at www.stea.fi. The website will open at the start of the year. The website for RAY's grant activities will be shut down on 31 December 2016.

Advisory board for grant-related matters and assessment and grant division

In early 2017, an advisory board for grant-related matters and an assessment and grant division will be set up as part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The task of the advisory board will be to provide statements to the STM both on general policy positions and guidelines regarding grant activities as well as on how grant policy has been implemented. The Government will appoint the advisory board. It will comprise persons proposed by social welfare and health organisations.

The assessment and grant division will take a position on grant proposals. In addition, the division may assess the activities of the organisations being supported. The members of the division may not be in an employment relationship in any of the organisations or in any other binding relationship with those applying for a grant. The Government will appoint the division after having consulted social welfare and health organisations.

Further information

Raimo Ikonen, Director-General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health tel. +358 (0)2951 63517
Sisko Seppä, Director of Grant Activities, STEA, tel. +358 (0)9 4370 2505

Uusi arpajaislaki vähentää järjestöjen byrokratiaa (STM press release 15 September 2016)

RAY:n historian suurin – ja viimeinen- avustusehdotus julkaistuLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab (RAY press release 14 December 2016)

Uuden rahapeliyhtiön aloitus 1.1.2017 vahvistettiin laillaLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab (Ministry of the Interior press release 21 December 2016)