Where can we bet securely and which are the leading bookmakers in Finland?

Finnish players can see the best betting sites in their country from our table below. Learn more about different sports and the betting services which they offer.

Introduction

Gambling is entirely legal in Finland and has been a popular pastime for decades. Although the state holds a monopoly over betting providers, several different international online sites cater to the Finnish market as well, providing ample choices and opportunities to win big.

Top Betting Websites in Finland

Despite the government monopoly on betting operators, no legislation prevents international sites from catering to the Finnish market. Although they not licensed within the country, here are some of the best and most-used betting sites in Finland:

Visit Bet365

Visit 22Bet

Competition between Operators

There is a monopoly on gambling in Finland, both with brick and mortar and online operators. The gambling industry is owned and operated solely by the government, which allows for proceeds to be channelled directly back into the community, and social causes that benefit everyone. As a result of this charity, there is an old slogan that goes “Even when you lose a bet, a Finn always wins”.

Three leading government organizations comprise the monopoly, each donating to different social causes. Firstly there is RAY that oversees slots, casino games, and other table games. Proceeds from these forms of gambling go towards social and healthcare organizations. Secondly, there is Veikkaus Oy, which is in charge of regulating the national lottery. This organization donates to charities that support culture, arts, science, youth work, and sports. Finally, Fintoto Oy regulates all forms of horse racing. Their revenue is given directly back to horse breeding and horse sports.

There is a fourth organization – Alands Penningautomatforening (PAF). Unlike the others that are national, the PAF operates solely in the province of Aland. There are some issues between the PAF and the Finnish authorities, because the PAF offer their online services to the rest of the country, diminishing the power of the monopoly.

Available Payment Methods

There are some different payment methods that are accepted by casinos in Finland. These include all of the options that are generally accepted internationally, such as Visa and Mastercard, and reputable e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. Finnish sites also accept Euteller, Trustly and Payson. Each site will have a more comprehensive list, but these options are widely accessible across the board.

For these deposit and withdrawal methods, they are all generally free and instantaneous. Some sites might charge a fee or put a hold on funds that are being withdrawn, but this is not common. The majority of these payment methods require a minimum of €1 to be withdrawn or deposited, to make the transaction valid.

Finland’s national currency is the euro (EUR). Most international sites will accept the euro as a form of currency that can be used to bet, and there is no need to have to convert to another, more accepted form of currency.

Mobile Betting in Finland

Mobile betting in Finland is becoming increasingly popular, as more and more punters place their bets online, instead of in brick and mortar establishments. All of the betting sites accepted in Finland have corresponding apps, available for download on Apple and Android devices. These apps are designed to allow the ease and accessibility of the complete website, but from the convenience of a device that can be accessed anywhere, any time.

Leading Sports for Betting in Finland

Sports betting has long been entrenched in Finnish culture and is one of the most popular forms of gambling. Aside from betting on the national sport Pesapallo, some other sports dominate the betting industry:

• Ice Hockey
  Finns are known for their love of winter sports, as well as their success in them. Ice hockey enjoys popularity around the world, so there are some different leagues and championships to bet on, not just local ones, but international as well.
• Football
  Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Finnish bettors are not immune to the thrill of the game. All sites offer global coverage of all major leagues, but many sites will also provide local coverage of the Veikkausliiga, the Finnish premier league.
• Basketball
  In Finland, the Korisliiga (the Finnish professional basketball league) rivals the NBA in terms of popularity. Comprising of 40 different games, there is an increasingly significant interest in the sport compared to other forms of sports betting. All of the government-provided betting sites offer extensive coverage of local games, but many large international sites will also provide Finns with the opportunity to bet on local matches as well.

The Profile of a Finnish Bettor

The average Finnish gambler is likely to be between the ages of 18-24, as this is the largest age demographic that engages in the hobby. 76% of people between the ages of 18 and 24 admit to gambling. Like most other countries, males are the primary gender that engages in betting, although the rate of females that gamble is growing. Finland is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and this allows them greater opportunity to indulge in gambling without going into financial hardship. Finland also has one of the lowest rates of gambling addiction in Europe, thanks in part to the regulations of the government, and the revenue from gambling being placed directly into social supports for gambling addicts.

FAQ

Our Verdict

Finland enjoys a healthy betting scene, with plentiful options to engage in gambling. The only exception for this is the fact that there are only two physical casinos in the whole country, seemingly under-serving the population of over 5 million. Due to the state monopoly, punters may find themselves limited by the content that the government provides them. That being said, the international betting scene is growing within Finland, leading to questions about the future stability of the government monopoly.

But at the same time, one cannot complain about the state monopoly when you consider that they directly invest profits into social campaigns throughout the country, more so than private companies would do. Betting has a direct positive impact on the community, regardless of whether the punter wins or loses. This kind of social structuring does not exist at this level anywhere else, and yet the benefits are clear.

Although not all international sites cater to the Finnish demographic, there is enough healthy competition online that punters have the freedom of choice when it comes to deciding what company to register. That provides them with access to some of the highest quality and safest betting sites in the world.