Today, we’re diving deep into the gambling scene of a place as cool as Finland. We’ll chat about the history of betting games and their legal status right now. We’ll also spotlight the top online casinos for Finnish players and dish on how to pick a top-notch casino. Wondering about payment methods for online casino deposits? Or the deets on bonuses for newbies and regulars? We’ve got you covered. We’ll also tackle the sports betting scene, lotteries, and poker. And of course, we’ll give you the lowdown on Finland’s biggest land-based casinos.
In Finland, there’s this state-run company called Veikkaus Oy that’s got a hold on internet gaming. So, if you’re all about that local flavor, give them a look.
But let’s be real, most punters are vibing with offshore joints. Why? Their game selection is off the charts, and their bonus game? Totally on point. We’ll spill the beans on choosing a dope casino in a bit. But for now, feast your eyes on our top picks for Finnish online casinos:
Gambling got its big break in the 1940s in Finland. That’s when Veikkaus Oy was born and started shaping the gambling market. The mid-20th century laid down the golden rules that still drive the scene today. The government has the full monopoly on gambling, both online and offline. The cherry on top? The dough they make goes straight into social projects.
The 1970s gave another boost when table games, including roulette, hit the scene. At first, they popped up in nightclubs. But that scene got axed, and these games moved to dedicated spots, birthing the first gambling clubs.
The big law that runs the show since 2012 is the “Lottery Act”. This baby says that slot machines are cool not just in casinos, but also in smaller joints, as long as they’re fully licensed and have a tracker that logs everything. The total number of slot machines in Finland? Over 21,000!
Right now, pretty much all gambling activities are legit in Finland, but with a twist. The catch is that the state-run company, Veikkaus Oy, holds the monopoly on all gambling – that includes land-based casinos, betting shops, and online casinos.
But here’s the kicker: playing at offshore online casinos or placing bets at foreign bookies isn’t off the table. As far as we know, the government doesn’t throw shade at overseas operators or block their sites.
Alright, here we go. We’re gonna break down some key stuff you ought to keep an eye out for when you’re pickin’ your online casino. First up, do a deep dive into the license and scan those player reviews. Then, figure out which deposit methods are your jam and what kinda bonuses they’re throwin’ your way. And don’t forget to scope out the customer support hours and see how their site vibes with mobile devices.
Before you dive in, decide where you wanna roll the dice. Either on a local site run by the Finnish government or at some foreign joint. Now, if you’re going with a local one, it’s all pretty straightforward. But for offshore online casinos, make sure they’ve got their licensing game on point. The big shots in the international license scene are MGA and Curacao. Having these badges of honor means you’re in for a fair and transparent ride.
Also, it’s a solid move to read up on some real-deal player feedback. This little hack helps you gauge how the casino treats its peeps. Do they hustle to clear up any beef, or do they just ghost when players have a gripe? We always keep our ear to the ground on this front, making sure our list is packed with casinos that get mad props. Check out the reviews on local sites like onlinecasinoreports.fi, or international ones like casinowow.com.
Those foreign casinos? Yeah, they’re lettin’ Finnish players in on the full bonus action. We’re talkin’ welcome deals for your initial deposits and regular freebies. Special shoutout to races, tourneys, and a sick ranking system they got going. We’ll dish more on the bonus types in a sec.
With e-commerce in Finland being all techy and advanced, local players can either tap into traditional banking methods or go all futuristic with e-services. A lot of folks still dig using credit/debit cards, but some are vibing with e-wallets or even crypto.
Any casino worth its salt’s gonna have 24/7 customer support. They should be all geared up to drop any info you need and sort out any mess you find yourself in. The crème de la crème of Finnish online casinos will even chat with you in Finnish, making the whole convo a breeze.
No shocker, but in today’s mobile age, loads of players wanna spin the wheel straight from their phone. So, it’s a no-brainer that the site’s gotta be sleek and snazzy for all sorts of mobile gadgets, regardless of size or OS. We’re always putting casinos through the mobile ringer, and you should definitely do the same.
As we’ve mentioned before, our Finnish pals have the full bonus buffet available at offshore online casinos. You’ve got your welcome bonuses, giving your deposits a lil’ boost, and then the regular perks that come into play after you’ve used up the welcome package. And, of course, don’t sleep on the tournaments – they’re your ticket to snagging some extra wins.
This bonus is basically your deposit’s best friend – it gives it a bit of a top-up and throws in some free spins on the side. Most legit online casinos spread the love over your first few deposits, making a nice little welcome bundle.
For the regulars, the treats just keep on coming. You’ve got your weekly reloads, monthly cashback, and special points you can swap for cold hard cash. Take the Play Fortuna casino, for example:
Give a shoutout to Play Fortuna’s VIP system – climb through 5 levels, with each one unlocked by dropping a certain amount of deposits. The higher you go, the sweeter the rewards and the better the point-exchange rates.
Want to spice up your game? Tournaments are where it’s at. Anyone can jump in; just sign up, check out the rules, and get spinning on selected slots. Over at Sol Casino, for instance, they’ve got:
Sports betting is also on the up-and-up in Finland. Just like with online casinos, you can place your bets at local joints or head offshore. Top dogs in the game include Veikkaus Pitkäveto, Vbet, Riobet, bet365, and MelBet.
Finns are big on sports – it’s kinda their thing. Keeping fit and healthy is a national pastime, which makes betting on sports a no-brainer. Team sports, in particular, get a lot of love. We could go on and chat about some of the top sports, but we’ll save that convo for another time.
In Finland, there’s a boatload of payment options available. The Finns are all about bank transfers, using their plastic for transactions, and they’re also pretty big on specialized banking services. E-wallets and crypto deposits are also the talk of the town. Stick around, and we’ll spill the beans on the most popular choices.
Using Visa/MasterCard is hands-down the easiest and most common way to top up your online casino account. Just punch in your card details, decide how much dough you wanna drop, and boom! In 5 minutes, you’re in the game. The only bummer is having to dish out your bank info.
Some punters prefer to use their mobiles to deposit into online casinos. It’s a piece of cake: just key in your phone number and the SMS code. Though, heads up, not all casinos are hip to this method.
Rocking e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney lets you keep your gaming cash separate from your regular moolah, plus keeps your banking details on the DL. Setting up a wallet is a breeze, and once you’re set, you can top it up using your bank card or whatever. Then, just a click and you’re good to bet online or with your bookie.
In Finland, folks are all about those banking services that let you use your bank account for online shopping sprees. They’re snappy, handy, and you don’t have to spill any secrets. Big names on the scene are Trustly, InstaDebit, ecoPayz, and Citadel Insta Banking.
The new kid on the block is crypto. Easy to buy, even easier to use for deposits or withdrawals. As a result, this method’s fanbase is shooting up.
NOTIFY
By the book, cryptos are legit as a payment method/financial tool. Hence, they’re tax-free. But keep your eyes peeled: mining crypto or raking in some green from the buy/sell price difference might get hit with taxes. So, you’re golden to buy crypto either to boost your investment game or to bet with online casinos and bookies.
Finns are head over heels for top-tier providers dishing out quality stuff. They’re all about variety in games, snazzy mechanics, and eye-popping graphics. Live games are getting major love, so the folks behind them are often the talk of the town. We’ll deep-dive into the top dogs in just a sec.
A Swedish heavyweight that’s been around since the tail-end of the last century. They’re all about crafting funky games, packing them with slick graphics and nifty twists. Finns have a soft spot for ’em, especially for their celeb-branded slots cooked up with big names.
A fresh face on the scene, but they’ve quickly shot up the charts. Thanks to their sharp game-making and a keen sense of what players dig, their variety and hit streaks have made them a crowd favorite.
Another old-timer in the gamble game. Been around the block and pumped out a ton of diverse titles. Slots like Divine Fortune and Starburst? Instant classics that got two thumbs up from the community.
The big cheese when it comes to jackpot games. Their slots are loaded with “outta nowhere” features, letting you bag massive wins any time. Between the big-win potential and the thrill of the game, Finnish gamblers are all over this provider.
As mentioned, live games are the talk of the town in Finland. And who’s leading that chat? Yep, arguably the best in the biz. Their lineup’s got everything from table and card games to glitzy game shows, all serving up killer vibes and fat payouts.
Over in Finland, there are a bunch of brick-and-mortar casinos, all state-owned. Their dough gets funneled into big-time social causes. Most are pretty snug spots, but the big kahuna? That’s in the capital. Let’s rap about that one.
Grand Casino Helsinki – The jewel of Finnish casinos, nestled right in the capital. It’s housed in this grand ol’ building from the early 20th century. Walk-ins are free, but don’t rock up in your grubby tees or tracksuits. They’ve got a pretty neat arsenal of about 300 machines (slots, electronic roulettes, video poker) and over 20 tables for every card and table game under the sun (roulette, blackjack, baccarat). Plus, a dedicated poker den.
Besides the gaming floor, the joint’s got three bars and a couple of eateries. They host swanky events regularly – perfect for pairing with dinner. Set you back about 50-100 euros a head.
Worth noting, while you can settle your bar and restaurant tabs with cards or cold hard cash, when you’re looking to grab some chips, it’s cash-only. No sweat though – there are ATMs near the front desk, ready for a quick withdrawal.
Lotteries are a hot ticket in the gambling world, kickin’ it old school since mid-last century. Holding these lotteries is pretty much a state-run show, with Veikkaus Lotto calling the shots. Their games, along with the EuroJackpot, are all the rage. Here’s a quirky fact: you can get in on the action from 15, even though you’re not officially an adult till 18. Let’s break down the biggest draws.
Lotto – Your classic 7-number lottery. A ticket sets you back €1. Once you snag one, you gotta pick 7 numbers between 1 and 40, or just let fate decide with a random ticket. You can go wild and pick up to 18 numbers on a single ticket, which cranks up your odds of hitting the jackpot, but your wallet will feel it. For an extra €0.5, you can score the Plus feature, doubling any winnings – except the jackpot. Drop €2 more, and you’re in the Joker lottery, with a cool €1 mil up for grabs. To play, pick 7 numbers between 0 and 9. Nail all of them, and you’re laughing all the way to the bank.
Draws drop every Saturday at 10:10 PM local time, broadcasted on the tube. Gotta grab your ticket before 9:45 PM. The jackpot starts at a sweet €700k. If no one bags it, the sum rolls over. No cap on how big it can get. The 2018 draw was off the charts with a whopping €14.5 million. There are 7 prize tiers in total.
| Prize Category | Required matches | Probability of fallout |
| 1 | 7 | 1 : 18,643,560 |
| 2 | 6 + bonus ball | 1 : 2,663,365 |
| 3 | 6 | 1 : 83,230 |
| 4 | 5 + bonus ball | 1 : 681 |
| 5 | 4 | 1 : 97 |
| 6 | 3 + bonus ball | 1 : 107 |
| 7 | Bonus ball | 1 : 30 |
Vikinglotto – The international sensation, big in Scandinavia and beyond. A ticket’s a cool €1, with the action going down every Wednesday at 9:00 PM. After buying, pick 6 numbers between 1 and 48, and a bonus “Viking number” between 1 and 8. Feeling lazy? Just go for a random ticket.
The starting jackpot’s a neat €3 mil. If no one snags it, it’s a rollover. Jackpot caps at a hefty €35 million. If it maxes out and no one wins, it spills to the next tier. The fattest pots were in April 2018 (€33.2 million), May 2015 (€24.5 million), and January 2012 (€21.3 million).
There are 8 prize tiers in total. The more you match, the fatter the loot. Hit the jackpot by guessing all 6 main numbers + the bonus ball.
| Prize Category | Required matches | Probability of fallout |
| 1 | 6 + bonus ball | 1 : 98,172,096 |
| 2 | 6 | 1 : 14,024,585 |
| 3 | 5 + bonus ball | 1 : 389,572 |
| 4 | 5 | 1 : 55,653 |
| 5 | 4 + bonus ball | 1 : 7,061 |
| 6 | 4 | 1 : 1,086 |
| 7 | 3 + bonus ball | 1 : 428 |
| 8 | 3 | 1 : 61 |
Poker’s another major player in Finland, with TV broadcasts and big guns like Patrik Antonius fueling its fame. Want the real deal? Hit up any Finnish casino. Online poker? Bit of a gray area.
Since the government’s got a stranglehold on all gambling, you’re stuck with the local poker room, only for Finnish players. But most folks lean towards international online joints like PokerStars, 888poker, GGpoker, and the lot. The government tries to pull the plug, but players always find a workaround.
When it comes to playing it safe in Finnish online casinos, you’re on solid ground. You’ve got two options: either you roll with local joints run by the state-backed Veikkaus, or you venture offshore. With the state-run spots, you’re pretty much golden; slim chance they’re trying to pull a fast one. So the real question’s about those international online joints.
But even there, no sweat as long as the casino’s rocking a major license like MGA or Curacao. Sure, there’s the odd case of a licensed casino playing dirty, but if you get played, you can hit up the gaming commission directly with an email. Lay out your beef in the message, and they’ll holler back in a few weeks.
To sum it up, the gambling scene in Finland’s pretty spicy. Just about every type of gambling’s legit, but here’s the kicker: there’s no real competition since the state’s got the whole game on lock. Hard to tell if that’s a win or a buzzkill, but it is what it is. Still, if you’re looking to play outside the box, there’s no law stopping you from diving into international waters.
Yes, there are about 10 different casinos in Finland. The largest one, Grand Casino Helsinki, operates in the Finnish capital city of Helsinki.
Yes, online casinos are legal. Games are conducted both by the state-owned company Veikkaus and well-known offshore online casinos.
Offline poker is available at any casino or poker room. Online players have their own reservation. You can also play in foreign rooms, but the government often blocks access to them.
Betting on any sports is completely legal in Finland. You have access to both local betting shops and foreign sites.
Yes, the Central Bank has recognized cryptocurrencies as legal tender. Therefore, you can buy them for investment or any other purpose.
