NO LOTTERIES OR SLOTS FOR UNDER 18 FINNS

17 August 2007

New law will boost underage limit upward by three years

Finland's Minister for Social Affairs and Health is about to tighten up on underage gambling in the northern European country, according to a report in the publication Helsingin Sanomat this week.

New legislation proposed by the Minister seeks to absolutely prohibit those younger than 18 years old from gambling of any sort - including slot machines and lottery games.

The proposal has been referred to the Ministry of the Interior for inclusion in new laws currently being drafted.

Government spokesman Ismo Tuominen commented that this is the first time that the ministry has made an official proposal to raise the age limit, which currently stands at 15 years.

"The ministry feels that gambling entails risks that would make a higher age limit appropriate, with no exceptions for any type of game," he said.

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