New survey reveals appetite for end to Finnish monopoly
Respondents cast doubt over Veikkaus responsible gambling efforts
Approximately 40% of Finns believe the country’s monopoly system should end, according to a new survey conducted by Finnish company Bilendi Oy.
Commissioned by the Kasino Curt website, the survey received responses from over 1,000 Finnish adults, with the sample being weighted based on age, gender and place of residence to represent the Finnish population.
Over 40% of respondents agreed fully or partially that Finland should abolish its gambling monopoly and adopt a gambling licence system. Just over 45% of individuals who responded said they agreed either fully or partially that this will occur within the next ten years.
A third of respondents to the survey disagreed with the assertion that Finland was right in justifying its gambling monopoly system to the European Union by claiming it prevented problem gambling.
The advertising of gambling services under the monopoly, was questioned with over 39% of individuals disagreeing with the view that gambling advertising should be allowed in Finland.
Advertising by the monopoly holder Veikkaus came under the spotlight with the highly controversial Veikkaus ‘therapist’ ad campaign, which received several complaints and led to the operator discontinuing much of its advertising with immediate effect from last month.
Only 26% of individuals responding to the survey felt that Veikkaus’s current efforts to decrease or reduce problem gambling were adequate, with over 40% of individuals expressing the opposite belief.
Janne Juntunen, client service manager for Bilendi Oy, said the survey illustrated the “stricter stance” Finns are taking against Veikkaus and the monopoly.
A high-level review of the monopoly system is currently being conducted by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV), which aims to determine if the monopoly should end.