Veikkaus has implemented mandatory loss limits for online “fast-paced games” like slots. Initially set at €2,000 per month, these limits were reduced to €500 in April 2020 and became permanent in June 2021. In August 2021, the loss limits were extended to physical slot machines as well.
Recent data from Veikkaus reveals that between September and October, approximately 100,000 players stopped gambling as they had reached their loss limits. This represents a 60% increase compared to previous months this year. Notably, over 80% of these cases involved self-imposed loss limits below €200.
The revenue derived from slot machines at Veikkaus has also experienced a significant decline. In 2019, it accounted for 40% of total revenue at €683m, while it is projected to reach only 20% of revenue (estimated at €200m-€220m) in 2022. This represents an 84.6% drop in revenue from this vertical.
This decline can be attributed to a reduction in both the number of slot players and the number of slot machines available. In 2021, there were approximately 50,000 fewer slot players compared to 2019, and the number of slot machines decreased from 18,500 to less than 10,000. Veikkaus initiated this reduction by taking 8,000 machines offline starting in June 2020.
Veikkaus has also seen an increase in the use of player IDs for slot machines, reaching up to 80% in 2021. The operator aims to implement mandatory authentication for all games by 2023, following its introduction to slot machines in January of this year.
As a result of these initiatives, the prevalence of gambling harm in the country has decreased. A survey commissioned by Veikkaus indicates that the percentage of the population classified as problem gamblers has reduced from 1.6% in the previous year to 0.8%.
Veikkaus’ chief data officer and vice president of data and analytics, Lauri Halkola, stated that gambling has significantly declined across all demographics since the implementation of mandatory loss limits. The most notable decreases have been observed among the heaviest gamblers as well as in the older age groups.
Susanna Saikkonen, Veikkaus’ vice president of sustainability, emphasized that their extensive sustainability measures have aimed at reducing problem gambling. The latest indicators suggest that these measures have been effective and indicate a positive shift for gaming, particularly in the case of slots.
