Press release
28.04.2009Finland's gaming policy becomes clearer
The implementation of the measures presented in the report of the steering group chaired by Secretary of State Ilkka Oksala will clarify and strengthen the Finnish gaming system.
The implementation of the measures presented in the report of the steering group chaired by Secretary of State Ilkka Oksala will clarify and strengthen the Finnish gaming system. This report constitutes a very good foundation for the second stage of the reform of the Finnish Lotteries Act.
- The statutory monopoly system, with three gaming operators acting in three clearly distinct product areas, is a logical system that works well from the point of view of preventing gambling problems. At the same time, it enables overall proceeds from gaming to be used for good causes that benefit society, explained RAY’s Communications Director Matti Hokkanen.
The product areas of RAY (Finland’s Slot Machine Association), Veikkaus (the Finnish lottery) and Fintoto will be more clearly delineated than before, while the mutual division of labour between the gaming organisations and public authorities will become clearer. The gaming organisations will continue to have a duty of social responsibility and an obligation to prevent gambling problems, but now the authorities are setting even clearer boundaries for the gaming organisations’ operations.
RAY is ready to launch online games
The report sets out Finnish gaming policy in a more logical, integrated way than before. It is based on instrumental neutrality in the legislation, which has prompted RAY to begin offering online gaming before the term of its current licence period expires.
RAY’s response to the Finnish government’s clear declaration is a responsible, reliably functioning national online gaming service, the proceeds of which will be used to benefit the Finnish public.
Responsibility in RAY’s gaming services means that players’ identity and age are checked against the national population register to ensure compliance with the minimum age limit of 18 years, and players cannot gamble using credit. Players have access to unsurpassed independent gaming management tools, and the service applies limits set by the Finnish authorities.
Online games are an important part of RAY’s updated and continually improved range of games on offer, but the majority of its proceeds will still continue to come from slot machines located in business partners’ premises and RAY’s own gaming arcades.
Further information is available from: Executive Director, Gaming Operations Janne Peräkylä and Communications Director Matti Hokkanen.
For interview requests, please contact Media Manager Tuula Lehto,
tel. +358 (0)40 588 5343.