Survey: Over 80% of Finns Want Gambling Taxes to Fund Youth, Sports, Culture and Public Benefit Causes

Helsinki, Uusimaa Jan 5, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – According to a recent survey, Finns have mixed feelings about the upcoming reform of the gambling legislation, which will come into effect in July 2027. Although tax revenues and the market licensing system are considered positive, citizens are concerned about the increase in gambling harm and the resources available for regulatory oversight. Respondents believe that gambling revenues should continue to be directed to public benefit causes.

The survey, based on a sample of 1,000 Finns, mapped citizens’ attitudes as Finland transitions to a license-based gambling system. Based on the results, Finns cautiously approve of the reform but set strict conditions for it in terms of the use of tax revenues and supervision.

Strong support for directing revenues to child and youth work

An overwhelming majority, 83.2 percent of respondents, believe that part of the tax revenues collected should be transferred back to support children, families, youth work, sports, and culture. Since the beginning of 2024, Veikkaus’s profits have been used for general government expenditure in accordance with the state budget, without any earmarking.

Only 5.2% of respondents opposed the idea. Women (85.1%) support the idea slightly more than men (81.7%).

The increase in tax revenue is seen as positive.

Citizens see the reform as an opportunity for the economy and security. 45.5% believe that gambling euros that previously flowed abroad will be brought into the tax system to benefit Finns. 42.5% expect unreliable and shady operators to disappear from the market.

More than half of men (51.6%) expect the reform of the Gaming Act to increase tax revenue, and more than 40% of them believe that the reform will bring more sponsors to Finnish sports. Women, on the other hand, emphasize safety, as their most important positive expectation is the removal of suspicious operators from the market (44.0%).

Concerns about the harms of gambling and supervision resources

The reform also brings with it fears. The biggest concern (43.8%) is that the total amount of gambling will increase, leading to an increase in gambling harms. 41.1% of respondents fear that the authorities will not have sufficient resources to effectively supervise new operators. More than a third (35.6%) are concerned about aggressive marketing by gambling companies targeting children and young people. This concern is particularly evident in the responses of young adults aged 18-34.

Positive expectations of the gambling law reform

• More tax revenue for Finns: 45.5%
• Elimination of suspicious gambling operators: 42.5%
• More sponsors for Finnish sports: 31.1%

Negative expectations of the gambling law reform

• The harmful effects of gambling will increase as gambling grows: 43.8%
• The authorities do not have sufficient resources to supervise new operators: 41.1%
• Impact of marketing on young people: 35.6%

The survey was conducted by Turtlebet in collaboration with the research company Bilendi in November 2025. A little over a thousand Finns responded to the survey. Half of the respondents were women and half were men.