How Betting Works in Finland

Countries take different stands on gambling and casinos, whether online casinos – netticasino - or land-based ones. In some countries, gambling is totally illegal, both its offline and online versions. You can wager neither in brick-and-mortar casinos nor on betting websites in such countries as Cyprus, Cambodia, North Korea, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Poland.

Other countries prohibit the establishment of casinos within their borders but turn a blind eye to online betting, or at least to some form of it. There are no land-based legalized casinos in Russia, but it supports online betting and even recently has welcomed the launch of the TestNet 1.0 of its Blockchain project by DAO. Casino. Other countries, such as Mali, let only foreign visitors play in their casinos, disallowing their own citizens to enter their premises. In the United States, only two states – Nevada and Louisiana – have fully legalized gambling.

Against the background of such a mixed attitude to gambling in other countries, Finland stands out with its enthusiastic approach to games of chance. Indeed, nowhere in the world, is gambling associated with nationalism and patriotism as it is in Finland. Finns not only regard wagering positively but consider gambling as their civic duty. By spending money in casinos, citizens of Finland help their country blossom.

Finns’ positive attitude to gambling is not only a piece of patriotic bravado. Successive governments of Finland have indeed been using the gambling proceeds for the betterment of the country. Because the gambling industry in Finland is controlled by the state through a government monopoly, the country’s rulers have always been able to invest all profits from gambling activities into various sporting events, arts, science, and education.

At present, Veikkaus, the state-owned national betting agency, annually gives one billion euros in profit to the government of Finland. Additional €200 million it hands over to government ministries in taxes. These arrangements contribute to the positive attitude with which Finnish people approach gambling, encouraging them to bet more. The latest statistics show that more than 80 percent of Finns try their luck in various games of chance, spending on them about €2 billion every year.

To make bets or play poker, Finns go Casino Helsinki, which is located in the capital of Finland. The casino in Helsinki is much larger than the Paf Casino at the Arkipelag Hotel & Casino in Mariehamn. It contains over 300 slots, 32 live gaming tables, and a large Poker room. In Casino Helsinki, you can play the classic games such as Blackjack and Roulette and enjoy Poker Table Games and Punto Bacno/Baccarat.

As online betting gains in popularity, more and more Finns choose to wager from the comfort of their homes instead of travelling to land-based casinos. They have several Finnish gambling websites on which they can play poker or bet on the outcome of various sport events. Like brick-and-mortar casinos, gambling websites are recognized by the Finnish government and run by PAF and RAY. The former entity owns the monopoly on online gambling in the Aland province, while the latter takes responsibility for betting websites on the Finnish mainland.

All these websites are well-designed and offer a rich choice of bonuses to Finnish players, inspiring them to make more bets and, in so doing, enrich their country and, ultimately, themselves. In Finland, citizens always win, even when they lose their money in gambling.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.