Online gaming has definitely become a mainstream entertainment phenomenon in recent years. Thanks to advancements in technology and enhancements in global connectivity, gamers from all over the world can now engage in the most innovative gaming possible.
In Finland, its gaming market is booming with new games and genres constantly emerging. With this gaming boom in the country, it has resulted in a profitable, vibrant community. In 2022, the number of gaming studios increased, showing the growing interest and investment in the industry.
Over the years, preferences evolved and came under the regulations in place. With how evolved online gaming is now in the country, it makes one curious how it came to be and what milestones played a significant role in shaping its landscape. Below, let us journey back to its early beginnings and explore its current gaming landscape.
Early Beginnings of Finnish Online Gaming
Gaming has always been considered to be a growing industry in Finland. In the 70s, arcade games were the most popular type of games. These games are often played on "leisure machines," which were designed for entertainment rather than for the pursuit of jackpots.
Leisure machines consisted of pinball machines, coin-operated jukeboxes, and arcade video games. By the 1980s, video gaming became all the rage among Finnish teenagers but then came the video game crash, which paved the way for home computer games on Commodore 64 and the ZX Spectrum devices. New kinds of gaming communities began to form among users, even though not everybody personally owned a computer device.
In the late 1990s and 2000s, gaming became a significant sector in Finland. More independent developers sprang to the scene. As the Finnish infrastructure improved, so did access to online gaming. Internet cafes opened up in urban centers where gamers could get together to play. What was once considered to be a niche hobby has finally transformed into a serious sector of its own.
It is also important to note that in the mid-2000s online casinos started to appear, but it wasn’t until the early 2010s that Finnish online casinos started to take off.
While these early casinos had much to improve, the Finnish online casinos of today have become more sophisticated in a way that they now offer great entertainment through a customized selection of casino games in their native language, with reliable domestic customer service, and substantial bonuses that allow gamers to double their deposits or allow them to enjoy a riskless extra round of games.
Current Landscape of Online Gaming in Finland
In recent years, the online gaming industry in Finland has grown substantially. This is mainly because the number of casino gaming enthusiasts has grown, especially when online casinos in Finnish language were introduced.
As Finnish casino gaming continued to rise, the Finnish government highlighted the importance of player protection, and a legal framework was put in place establishing the Veikkaus Oy, the government-owned agency which holds a monopoly on offering online gambling services. Yet despite such a monopoly, there are still those offshore-based casinos that offer more diverse casino games and promotions to Finns who have diverse gaming preferences.
Accordingly, the most popular casino games among Finns include online slots, roulette, and blackjack, that have now been offered in mobile casino apps, making casino gaming even more convenient and easy to access.
Another trend that has been on the rise in the Finnish gaming market is its interest towards live dealer games. This type of game allows Finnish casino gamers to play their favorite table games while interacting with a live dealer through a live video stream, creating a more immersive and authentic casino experience.
By combining elements of both online and land-based gaming, these live dealer games appeal to Finnish gamers who seek the social experience of a physical casino while remaining within the comfort of their homes. Aside from these live-dealer games, Finnish developers are also increasingly exploring other immersive technologies such as virtual reality, further pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
Interestingly, talks about Finland ending its online gambling monopoly have gained momentum in recent months, sparking further interest in what could be the potential regulatory changes it could bring. As interest toward market liberalization continues to grow, a draft of the new Finnish Gambling Act has been introduced where one of its main points is to allow private operators to enter the Finnish market as early as 2027.
Final Thoughts
Online gaming in Finland can be highly characterized by the Finns’ love for gaming, creativity, and technological advancements. From its humble beginnings in the 1980s to becoming a global gaming hub, Finland has consistently pushed the boundaries compared to other surrounding European countries.
With talks about market liberalization, it is interesting to explore the path the Finnish online gaming industry will take. Yet, no matter the path it chooses, it is to be expected that the industry will continue to grow and prosper as it is steadfast in its stance of nurturing its legacy of innovation, inspiring the next generation of gamers and developers.
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