Finland has an outstanding online gaming industry and is one of the popular activities in the country. With about 5.5 million people, Finland has become the home of some of the best online gaming casinos with excellent promotions and memorable gaming experiences. It has also established itself as the online gaming driving force in the entire Europe.
We expect Finnish online gaming to expand in terms of profitability and popularity. This slogan, “A Finn always wins”, summarizes Finland’s attitudes to online gaming and it’s the main reason for its popularity among the players. That’s why online gaming generates considerable revenue for the country, worth 2.5 billion euros in a year.
The government of Finland controls both online and offline gaming activities under the monopoly sector. This article will walk you through the history of online gambling to understand how this monopoly came to be.
The History of Online Gaming
According to Skol Casino overview, Finnish gaming industry is one of the most developed industries with the latest innovations in operating systems, gaming platforms and payment systems such as Pay N Play that allow you to play without registering. Let’s take a look at how the industry has historically evolved.
At the beginning of the 1920s, gambling was illegal in Finland. However, after gaining their independence, they established new gaming standards and directions. The government realized that most Finnish players were gambling in Sweden, the neighboring country where this activity was now legal.
They curbed the Finnish revenue going to Sweden by legalizing various forms of gaming such as slot machines, horse betting and money lottery. The Finns embraced these changes and freedoms in the entertainment industry; thus, private gaming industries quickly expanded.
The Finnish government set the pace in the gaming industry by nationalizing it throughout the nation. Veikkaus Oy and Raha-automaattiyhdisty gave the government monopoly over gambling activities and how people could play. The government spent profits from gambling activities in various public development areas.
To accumulate all the revenues, the government started the slogan “A Finn always wins” as active motivation. Through this slogan, Finland created a gaming culture among its citizens. They established slot machines in gas stations, shops, offices and cafes. This was a extraordinary way of inspiring people to gamble.
Taking Gambling Online
In 1996, Veikkaus launched its first legitimate online casino gaming. Later in 2007, Play Among Friends (PAF) also joined them. Today, many sites offer top-notch live casinos and gaming options to Finnish players.
Finland has innovative technology that enables the players to access online games pretty quickly. The latest technology in the mobile communication industry supports the transition of the latest mobile gaming trends.
The combination of deep-rooted gaming culture and modern technology makes Finnish citizens embrace online gaming. It’s normal to see great enthusiasm in participating in online casino games and slots.
To generate a massive revenue collection from online gaming, the Finnish government bars the foreign online casino operators from advertising their products using .fi domains and other publications. However, they can access their international websites from their internet networks.
No policies bar Finnish players from accessing the international online casinos. Instead, this is freedom for the citizens because they can also choose not to create an account with foreign websites. The players seek the convenience of various online gaming sites and mobile applications to play.
Challenges Facing Online Gaming in Finland
Now that most Finnish players can access online casino games, the challenge facing the Finnish government is to maintain the vast revenue generated from gaming. Therefore, Finland should strive to be competitive in the industry. They need to be ahead of everyone else regarding the latest mobile technology, trends, gaming delivery systems, and prizes.
If the local online casino operators cannot rival international gaming companies, the government revenue collection will reduce drastically. The major concern is whether the government will change the gaming system that has been there for quite a long time. However, Finnish experts are monitoring the online gaming industry closely.
Conclusion
Now that most Finnish players can access online casino games, the challenge facing the Finnish government is to maintain the vast revenue generated from gaming. Therefore, Finland should strive to be competitive in the industry. They need to be ahead of everyone else regarding the latest mobile technology, trends, gaming delivery systems, and prizes.
If the local online casino operators cannot rival international gaming companies, the government revenue collection will reduce drastically. The major concern is whether the government will change the gaming system that has been there for quite a long time. However, Finnish experts are monitoring the online gaming industry closely.
