Finland’s Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) has expressed detailed concerns about the increasing instances of gambling-related disorders, even as Finland experiences a decline in gambling participation.

The observation was made by the Health Institute during its public survey to ascertain the prevalence of moderate and problem gambling risks among Finnish adults.

The Institute, responsible for monitoring records on disorders or abuse related to all forms of addiction, has conducted the “Gambling Population Survey” every four years, starting in 2007.

The 2023 survey, which involved 5,977 participants, revealed that 4.2% were engaged in moderate risk or problem gambling, equating to approximately 151,000 people at the population level. This represents an increase from 3% in previous THL surveys.