Connect with us

Press Releases

Finland: Prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased – gambling problems still as common as before

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

According to a study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the prevalence of “at-risk gambling” which causes individual mild harms has decreased in Finland. The 2019 study indicated that 11 per cent of the Finnish population had engaged in at-risk level gambling in the past 12 months. In the previous study, conducted in 2015, the proportion of at-risk gamblers was 15 per cent. The prevalence of at-risk gambling has decreased in both men and women.

At-risk gambling refers to gambling which causes some individual harms and often precedes the development of problem gambling. According to the 2019 study, three per cent of the Finnish population, meaning approximately 112,000 people, had experienced gambling problems. The proportion of such individuals has remained the same since 2007.

According to the study, 1.4 per cent of Finns – around 52,000 people – suffered in 2019 from probable pathological gambling, which is the most severe form of problematic gambling.

In contrast, the study indicates that gambling without indentified problems has increased. The number of gamblers remained the same between 2015 and 2019, but changes took place in the frequency of gambling: the proportion of Finns who gambled less often than once a month increased, whereas the proportion of those gambling more often than this decreased.

The past-year prevalence of gambling at least one game type among the respondents was 78.4 per cent.

 

Online gambling has become more common

In 2019, one third of the respondents (36.3 %) had been gambling online. The proportion of online gamblers increased by 12.7 percentage points from 2015.

At the same time, the proportion of those who gambled games offered by foreign operators increased from 3.3 to 5.4 per cent. Almost all gamblers (98.1 %) who had gambled games offered by an operator other than Veikkaus Oy had also gambled Veikkaus Oy’s games.

In 2019, 2.5 per cent of the gamblers accounted for one half of the total gambling expenditure. This means that of the 2,917,000 people living in mainland Finland who participated in gambling in 2019, 72,000 people spent one half of the total expenditure of that year. Veikkaus Oy’s share of the online gambling expenditure was 83.6 per cent, while the other game operators accounted for 16.4 per cent.

“Only a relatively few people gamble games offered by operators other than Veikkaus, when compared to the number of those gambling Veikkaus games. Then again, there is big money involved in foreign online games. Therefore, it is now important to monitor how the closing of the Finnish slot machines due to the coronavirus epidemic affects online gambling”, says THL Senior Researcher Anne Salonen.

 

One in five Finns has someone with problematic gambling in their immediate social circle

Just over one fifth (21.1 %) of the respondents reported that at least one person in their immediate social circle had demonstrated problematic gambling. This means that around 790,000 persons are affected by someone close to them having a gambling problem, and this proportion has increased.

According to Salonen, the result may also indicate that Finns have become more aware of gambling problems, and the issue is now discussed more openly and boldly than before.

Since 2007, THL has been monitoring gambling, the prevalence of gambling problems, and the attitudes and opinions related to gambling by carrying out a population survey every four years among Finnish people aged from 15 to 74. In 2019, the study was participated in by 3994 Finns. Statistics Finland conducted the interviews over the telephone. The study was carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and commissioned and financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (section 52 of the Lotteries Act).

THL publishes the Finnish Gambling 2019 results in stages; the first step now is to publish the main results concerning gambling and gambling problems. The results concerning the attitudes and opinions related to gambling will be published later this year.

 

Source: thl.fi

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Brazil

SOFTSWISS Strengthens Regulated Market Presence in LatAm with Full Product Certification in Brazil

Published

on

softswiss-strengthens-regulated-market-presence-in-latam-with-full-product-certification-in-brazil

 

The leading tech provider shares key results of H1

SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, delivered robust product growth across its ecosystem and secured official certifications in Brazil and Peru during the first half of 2025. These achievements reinforce the company’s leadership as a provider of reliable, scalable iGaming solutions, with a strategic focus on expansion in LatAm.

The first half of 2025 brought a new wave of significant growth for SOFTSWISS in LatAm with fully localised, compliant solutions tailored to the needs of regional operators. Now, its Game Aggregator, Casino Platform, Sportsbook, and Jackpot Aggregator are officially certified in Brazil, making it a full product lineup ready for operation in one of the region’s most dynamic markets. Additional Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) certifications in Peru represent the next step in SOFTSWISS’ long-term expansion strategy.

By H1 2025, SOFTSWISS sustained its dominant position across flagship products, with several iGaming solutions demonstrating particularly notable growth: 

  • The Game Aggregator expanded its portfolio by 26% across 1,350 brands, giving operators more flexibility.
  • The Jackpot Aggregator reached 100 integrated brands, up 25% since the start of the year – a clear sign that demand for engagement-driven mechanics continues to grow. Jackpot Aggregator campaigns help partners boost player turnover by 50%, driving growth and retention.
  • The Casino Platform continues to power 250 casinos with 99.999% uptime – ensuring uninterrupted gameplay. No bets are lost, no sessions are dropped – a critical factor for operators running 24/7. 
  • Affilka by SOFTSWISS reached 109 million registered users, up 28% since the beginning of the year. The number of active brands surpassed 480, while affiliate account volume rose by 22%, reflecting strong demand for efficient, performance-driven marketing tools.
  • The Sportsbook offers access to 2,000 markets and 200 sports, and supports 100,000 live events, delivering a fast, responsive, and scalable betting experience. 

“We are not just expanding, we are earning trust in new markets. The first half of 2025 showed strong growth across products and markets. Getting certified in Brazil and Peru isn’t just a checkbox – it’s a strong validation for operators that they can count on us to deliver reliable, localised, and fully compliant solutions,” added Max Trafimovich, International Non-Executive Director at SOFTSWISS.

SOFTSWISS is taking bold steps toward long-term growth in Latin America, with a clear ambition to become a leading technology partner for local iGaming operators. By combining global experience with a deep understanding of regional market needs, SOFTSWISS is delivering tailored solutions that help operators launch faster, operate more efficiently, and scale with confidence. 

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS Strengthens Regulated Market Presence in LatAm with Full Product Certification in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

gaming

RedOctane Games Launches: A New Studio Dedicated to Rhythm Gaming Innovation

Published

on

redoctane-games-launches:-a-new-studio-dedicated-to-rhythm-gaming-innovation

 

A fresh beat is about to drop in the world of music rhythm games. Today marks the official launch of RedOctane Games, a small but passionate studio founded by veterans of the rhythm game world, alongside exceptional new-generation developers, creators, and community leaders from the global rhythm gaming scene.

RedOctane Games is focused solely on advancing the rhythm game genre combining the past with the future and being driven forward hand in hand with this well-established and respected community of gamers. The team has been busy in pre-production over recent months and has now officially entered production on its debut rhythm-based title, which is expected to be announced later this year.

Heading up the studio is Simon Ebejer, a seasoned games industry leader who was the Production Director on several Guitar Hero titles during his time at Neversoft, later becoming Studio Head at Vicarious Visions and VP of Operations at Blizzard Entertainment, where he played a pivotal role in the organization and delivery of Diablo IV.

The RedOctane Games team includes creators and developers who helped create and scale Guitar Hero and DJ Hero nearly two decades ago, as well as proven emerging development talent and community leaders from across today’s rhythm gaming space. The studio is being built with the community from the ground up, ensuring that players are part of the creative journey from day one.

In addition, it has been announced that brothers Charles and Kai Huang will join a special advisory board for the company. Charles and Kai were the original founders of the Guitar Hero franchise back in 2005, having partnered with Harmonix Music Systems to launch the groundbreaking title that helped define a generation of rhythm gaming. Their involvement brings deep heritage and insight to the studio’s future direction.

“Rhythm games are about more than just gameplay they’re about feel, flow, and connection to the music and to each other,” said Simon Ebejer, Head of Studio. “RedOctane Games is our way of giving back to a genre that means so much to us, while pushing it forward in new and exciting directions.”

With community-built development at its core and a strong foundation of technical and creative talent, RedOctane Games is ready to deliver the next evolution in rhythm gaming.

The post RedOctane Games Launches: A New Studio Dedicated to Rhythm Gaming Innovation appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Spinomenal launches mythology-themed Majestic Zeus

Published

on

spinomenal-launches-mythology-themed-majestic-zeus
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has launched its mythology-themed Majestic Zeus slot.

Set at the foothills of Mount Olympus, Majestic Zeus welcomes players to a Grecian world where the rewards are potentially as large as the mountains themselves. The 5×3 frame is nestled between two towering columns adorned with Grecian goddesses. A thunderous, powerful musical score evokes the might of Zeus and heightens the entertainment.

Players who find three Zeus symbols will launch the Free Spins game. Before entering Free Games, players must take a turn on the Wheel of Fortune to determine the free spins total, between 10 and 40, and the symbol will be doubled for the round.

Three blue lightning bolts will trigger the Bonus feature in Majestic Zeus. Three spins are granted to players instantly, and the mission is filling the metre by collecting Scattered winning symbols. Five Scattered symbols will complete one cell in the metre. Additional spins can be earned with the +1 symbol and once the spins end the final total is paid out calculated by the final filled metre cell.

Majestic Zeus also has Stacked Wilds available where once the reels are spinning, Wild symbols have the ability to appear on the reels to increase the chance of a win. During the base game, Only Double Symbols can come into play, making all symbols appear in their double form.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Majestic Zeus is sure to make a lot of noise amongst players thanks to its epic combination of myth, mechanics, and multiplier potential. The game looks and sounds superb — we’re expecting big results from it.”

The post Spinomenal launches mythology-themed Majestic Zeus appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending