Gamers or Gamblers – Do Finnish Players Prefer Online Casinos Over Gaming? Let’s Check the Stats
Gambling and gaming are very similar activities, but some differences exist. One of the most significant differences between gambling and gaming is that for gambling, the outcome is usually achieved by luck, while in gaming, the result is generally dependent on skill. At the same time, both chance and skill play their part in gambling and gaming.
When it comes to the thriving Finnish online casino industry, use the term gaming or iGaming, which is also true for every online casino market. Many video gaming activities that Finns enjoy include some gambling features, and many gambling activities include gaming features, so there is a prominent overlap between the two movements. An example of gaming that has gambling features is a game packed with one or multiple mini-games that share similarities with online casino games.
Video games can also feature pick-me prizes that players access by spending real funds. Loot boxes, as these may be called, are very popular in the video gaming industry. An example of an online casino game that takes inspiration from video gaming is a slot game inspired by a popular video game. Either way, the convergence of gaming and gambling leads to a significantly higher participation level, which also applies to the Finnish video gaming and gambling industries. Further, we compare stats for Finnish online casinos with video gaming stats to see which activity is more prevalent among Finns.
Growing Popularity of Finnish Online Casinos Among Players
When it comes to online casinos in Finland, iGaming sites cater to Finnish players even though no remote gaming licenses are issued to international online casinos. The best online casinos in Finland are licensed by non-Finnish iGaming regulatory bodies. As of today, RAY and PAF are the only online casinos in Finland that are recognized by the government. RAY is also a well-known name in the Finnish land-based casino industry, while PAF has a monopoly over online gambling.
While Finland is home to stringent iGaming laws and regulations, international online casinos serve Finns. To learn more, check out this detailed guide on Finnish online casinos. Just like in all other European countries in which online casinos can operate legally, online casinos in Finland have grown in popularity in the last several years. According to a report released in 2017 on the Finnish gambling industry, most Finnish online casino players were manual workers, followed by upper-level and lower-level employees. According to the same report, the lowest number of Finnish gamblers are elderly.
When it comes to gender statistics, around 20% of the female population engages in gambling at online casinos. At the same time, about 27% of the male population in Finland are online gamblers. As previously mentioned, gambling activities in the country have been monopolized by RAY, PAF, and two other companies, Fintoto Oy and Veikkaus Oy. Still, the best online casinos catering to Finns are owned and operated by non-Finnish companies. Even if these four entities remain to dominate the industry, the best online casinos in Finland will probably be internationally-owned gambling sites.
Other Gambling Statistics in Finland
According to this DataReportal post, Finland has a population of 5.5 million, as estimated in January of 2022. The country’s population increased by around 0.1% percent in twelve months. Approximately 78% of the country’s population engages in gambling activities, according to statistics revealed back in 2021, and the most popular gambling form is iGaming or online casinos. A study by Statistics Finland in 2019 suggested that in the past year, gambling prevalence (2018) in Finland was around 78.4%. It should be noted that 3,994 Finns participated in this study.
The same study also revealed that the past-year online gambling prevalence (2018) in Finland was around 36.3%. In addition, the problem gambling prevalence in Finland in 2018 was about 3%. The same Statistics Finland report revealed that scratch cards, lottery games, and slots were the most popular gambling activities among Finns in 2018. A Statista report from 2017 showed that 27% of the male and 10% of the female population engaged in online gambling.
Back in 2021, Veikkaus Oy, which is the only licensed operator of online gambling in Finland, generated gross gaming revenues of around €1,1 million. At the same time, Finland’s offshore online gambling market accounted for about 30% of the country’s gross gaming revenue in the last ten years. The overall Finnish gambling scene is valued at around €780 million, and the vast majority of gross gambling revenues are generated by online casinos and other online gambling businesses.
Finland Gaming Market Statistics
At the end of 2020, there were around 2.8 million video gamers in the country. Essentially, around half of the total population are video gamers. Also, estimated in 2020, the country’s growing video gaming market will collect over $435 million in gross revenues. As revealed in a survey on the most popular gaming options among Finns, around 86% of Finnish gamers play their favorite games on their mobile devices.
The same survey also revealed that around 77% of Finns play video games on their PC devices, and approximately 76% of them play on gaming consoles. In most European video gaming markets, mobile gaming is the most popular activity, and the same is true for Finland. In the case of Finland, this is not surprising, considering it is home to some of the most successful developers of mobile games, including Seriously Digital Entertainment, Supercell, and Rovio.
Also, around 93% of female and 81% of male gamers enjoy mobile gaming. Some 68% of female and 84% of male gamers prefer gaming on their PC devices. Console gaming is popular among 68% of females and around 81% of male gamers in Finland. When it comes to the most popular games, Candy Crush Saga leads in the mobile video gaming market. Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty are the most popular games among those who play on PCs and consoles.