The Culture of Sports Betting in Finland

Sports in Finland, especially sports such as ice hockey, are a major part of the country’s identity. Therefore, it can come as no surprise to find out that Finnish sports fans love to bet on a variety of sports. Veikkaus, which is government-owned, is the biggest and most popular betting site in the country, but there are other international options too. In this article, we are going to have a look at some of the best betting sites for Finnish sports fans as well as take a look at Finnish gambling laws, the best payment options for Finns, the sports Finns like to bet on, and what to look for in a sportsbook. 

Is Sports Betting Legal in Finland?

Yes, betting on sports is 100% legal in Finland, whether you are in Helsinki in the south or Kainuu in the North. The country’s gambling industry has been regulated heavily since the end of WWII, with the aforementioned government-owned Veikkaus holding the monopoly on all types of gambling. 

Veikkaus was set up back in 2017 when Finland’s three betting agencies (Fintoto, Veikkaus, and RAY) merged together. Nowadays, the company generates more than one billion Euros a year, and the money that is made is spent on things that will benefit the country. For example, it is distributed to beneficiaries in fields such as youth work, science, health, sports, social welfare, and culture. 

However, the European Union believes that this monopoly is too restrictive on international online bookies, and they have repeatedly put pressure on Finland to discard it, but the Finns have not budged. The Finnish government has argued that ending this monopoly will lead to a negative impact on several organisations that depend on the funds that they get from Veikkaus. 

The good thing is that Finnish players are not restricted from opening an account with an international bookmaker. Finland do not have a gambling license system, meaning that they do not issue licenses out to private operators. This means that many offshore bookies are free to let Finnish players sign up and they cannot be blocked by the government. However, they are not allowed to advertise in the country. 

The Best International Bookmakers for Finnish Sports Bettors

The Finnish have plenty of international bookmakers that they can open an account with, but this variety is something that can make things a bit difficult when it comes to finding a bookmaker to register with. We have all been to a restaurant, picked up the menu, found over 100 dishes on it, and then struggled to decide what dish we are going to choose. This can happen when you have plenty of bookies to choose from, which is why we thought we would help you out by listing, what we believe are, some of the best sportsbooks for Finnish sports bettors:

• Unibet
• NetBet
• LeoVegas
• 22Bet
• Mr. Green
• Betiton
• Casumo
• 888sport

If you want to find out more about these great bookmakers, then the reviews at www.suomiveikkaus.com are definitely worth a read. In their in-depth reviews, you will find out all you need to know about the bookie in question. This includes the bonuses on offer, the sports that are available, the markets and odds on offer, the payment options available, and whether the customer care team is any good.  

Choosing the Best Finnish Betting Site

Since foreign bookies are not banned from providing a service, Finnish players, as we just showed above, have plenty of great bookmakers that they can choose from. So, what are some of the main factors that should be considered when signing up with a national sportsbook? This is what we shall look at now. 

Security

You should never have to worry about the fairness of a sportsbook that you are gambling with, but you should always tread with a bit of caution although the gambling world is always moving towards a secure and safer place. This is truer for offshore betting sites as the Finnish government do not hand out licenses and do not have any control over sportsbooks. If an issue arises, Finnish players are not protected like they would be by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission in the UK, for instance.

Always make sure that an international bookmaker has a license from a reputable organisation. Alongside the UKGC, other reputable regulators include the Malta Gaming Authority and the Curacao Gaming Control Board. In addition to this, you should do your own research to get a good understanding as to what you can expect from a bookie. 

Welcome Bonus

It is now very common for bookmakers to offer new customers an enticing welcome bonus when they register. These are a very good way to increase your bankroll and you should pay attention to them when you are making your decision as to which sportsbook you want to sign up with. Keep in mind that you are not restricted to opening an account with one bookmaker, so you can claim as many welcome bonuses as you like. However, please remember to read all of the T&Cs first before you go ahead and claim any bonus. 

Promotions

The bonuses on offer should not stop once a player has signed up with a bookie. Nowadays, bookmakers will offer their customers regular promotions in order to keep them satisfied. A satisfied customer is one that will be happy to stick around. The different types of promos that you will encounter are free bets, bet boosts, and weekly cash backs. Before committing to a bookie, sports bettors should check out the promotions page to get a good idea as to what they offer their customers. 

Odds

A betting site that has poor odds is one that is pretty much worthless. Yeah, great welcome bonuses and constant promos are great, but do not let them distract you from checking out whether the odds are good enough or not. At the end of the day, the odds are what will determine the size of the profit that you can potentially make, so you need to make sure that you are gambling at a bookie that offers some decent odds. 

Best Payment Options for Finnish Sports Bettors

Sports bettors in every country have their own set of preferred banking options, and the Finns like to use a variety of foreign brands. VISA and MasterCard are two of the world’s most well-known payment options because they give their users an easy and efficient way to deposit and withdraw funds from their account. Thanks to the international presence that these payment options have, they are offered at the majority of offshore bookies and are really popular with Finnish punters. 

Alternatively, Finnish players like to make use of e-Wallets such as Skrill, PayPal, Trustly, and Neteller. These e-Wallets are a great payment option as they allow people to make a transaction without having to bother with a physical card. They are favoured by many Finns because of how secure they are because you do not have to share debit or credit card details with the bookies. 

What Are the Most Popular Sports in Finland?

Finland, as we said in the introduction, is a country that has a huge love for sports. Over the years, they have managed to produce, despite being a small country, some very good ice hockey players, Formula 1 drivers, and the odd decent footballer. Therefore, it will not come as a shock to find out that the Finns enjoy betting on F1, football, and ice hockey. Finland’s national sport is Pesäpallo, which is a bat and ball sport that many call Finnish baseball. However, you will not find many international bookmakers that offer markets and odds for this sport.