Only a few weeks ago RAY announced that it will reconsider where the
second casino should be placed. As you know, the second casino was to
be opened at the Finnish-Russian border, but RAY withdrew from the
project. There must be many reasons why this project was not
completed, but it relied too heavily on the Russian tourism like many
other businesses in the area. Perhaps the next casino should be
opened in Lapland, which is a multinational tourist destination?
Then the Finnish Ministry of Interior published an account of possible
alternative models of the current gambling monopoly system. Last December the
merge of the three national gambling companies was a hot topic in the
media. The appointed working group pondering on the future of the gambling
monopoly system was unanimous in their suggestion that the system needs to
be developed further. The working group also suggested that all the national
gambling companies should merge into one gambling company or at least two
of them should form a company together (RAY and Veikkaus).
In the border casino case, Finland's geographical position and the
expansion of Russian tourism influenced the decision to open
a casino in the Eastern Finland. Although Finland suffered from
the economic recession like many other European countries, it was
the weakening of the value of the Russian ruble that hit the most
Finnish companies in Russia and those trading with Russian partners.
The future of the gambling monopoly system has troubled
policymakers since Finland decided to apply for the EU
membership. Twenty years later, policymakers still believe in a
powerful monopoly system without considering other alternative
models. On the other hand, the foreign gambling companies are
not the major threat to Finland, but the growing money flow abroad.
So, no news is good news? I disagree. Harm minimization and prevention
of gambling harms are the main tasks of the Finnish gambling policy.
Yet sometimes it is hard to understand what harm minimization truly
means. I have noticed that in the smallest grocery stores the age limit
is let known in the bottom of the slot machines. Before it was made
clear by a colored tape that marked the area for gambling. Lottery
games are advertised non stop on the conveyor belt of the checkout
counters in addition to the display of lottery games and scratch cards.
If a person has a problem with gambling and s/he tries to stop it, is it
even possible when gambling machines and money games are
available almost everywhere?
Referring to harm minimization is not enough when age limits
are not respected and money games are advertised increasingly.
Not long ago I went to a kiosk where the owner almost forced
an elderly woman to buy scratch cards. The elderly woman seemed
unable to understand what she was purchasing. Also many young
cashiers are unable to control slot machine playing when parents
gamble in the presence of their children. Perhaps it is time to
reconsider the placement of gambling machines and money games
in specific gambling venues where underage supporters are
not welcome.
Before the new age limit reached slot machines (summer 2011):
http://www.uutisvuoksi.fi/Uutiset/2011/06/23/Alaikäisten%20rahapelaamiselle%20tulee%20nyt%20totaalikielto/2011511509020/17
Cashiers should remind underage players of the new age limits (fall 2012):
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1305600344326
Underage children are not welcome in gambling venues (summer 2011):
http://www.kymensanomat.fi/Online/2011/07/01/Alaikäisten%20raha-automaattipelaaminen%20loppuu%20nyt%20kaikkialla/2011311569634/4
second casino should be placed. As you know, the second casino was to
be opened at the Finnish-Russian border, but RAY withdrew from the
project. There must be many reasons why this project was not
completed, but it relied too heavily on the Russian tourism like many
other businesses in the area. Perhaps the next casino should be
opened in Lapland, which is a multinational tourist destination?
Then the Finnish Ministry of Interior published an account of possible
alternative models of the current gambling monopoly system. Last December the
merge of the three national gambling companies was a hot topic in the
media. The appointed working group pondering on the future of the gambling
monopoly system was unanimous in their suggestion that the system needs to
be developed further. The working group also suggested that all the national
gambling companies should merge into one gambling company or at least two
of them should form a company together (RAY and Veikkaus).
In the border casino case, Finland's geographical position and the
expansion of Russian tourism influenced the decision to open
a casino in the Eastern Finland. Although Finland suffered from
the economic recession like many other European countries, it was
the weakening of the value of the Russian ruble that hit the most
Finnish companies in Russia and those trading with Russian partners.
The future of the gambling monopoly system has troubled
policymakers since Finland decided to apply for the EU
membership. Twenty years later, policymakers still believe in a
powerful monopoly system without considering other alternative
models. On the other hand, the foreign gambling companies are
not the major threat to Finland, but the growing money flow abroad.
So, no news is good news? I disagree. Harm minimization and prevention
of gambling harms are the main tasks of the Finnish gambling policy.
Yet sometimes it is hard to understand what harm minimization truly
means. I have noticed that in the smallest grocery stores the age limit
is let known in the bottom of the slot machines. Before it was made
clear by a colored tape that marked the area for gambling. Lottery
games are advertised non stop on the conveyor belt of the checkout
counters in addition to the display of lottery games and scratch cards.
If a person has a problem with gambling and s/he tries to stop it, is it
even possible when gambling machines and money games are
available almost everywhere?
Referring to harm minimization is not enough when age limits
are not respected and money games are advertised increasingly.
Not long ago I went to a kiosk where the owner almost forced
an elderly woman to buy scratch cards. The elderly woman seemed
unable to understand what she was purchasing. Also many young
cashiers are unable to control slot machine playing when parents
gamble in the presence of their children. Perhaps it is time to
reconsider the placement of gambling machines and money games
in specific gambling venues where underage supporters are
not welcome.
Before the new age limit reached slot machines (summer 2011):
http://www.uutisvuoksi.fi/Uutiset/2011/06/23/Alaikäisten%20rahapelaamiselle%20tulee%20nyt%20totaalikielto/2011511509020/17
Cashiers should remind underage players of the new age limits (fall 2012):
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1305600344326
Underage children are not welcome in gambling venues (summer 2011):
http://www.kymensanomat.fi/Online/2011/07/01/Alaikäisten%20raha-automaattipelaaminen%20loppuu%20nyt%20kaikkialla/2011311569634/4
