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Maksuliikenne-estot -EN
Payment blocks in gambling
Payment blocks in gambling came into force from the beginning of 2023. Payment blocks aim to influence the availability of gambling in mainland Finland because influencing the availability and accessibility of gambling services is an effective way to prevent gambling-related harm. Gambling outside mainland Finland is not restricted or regulated by the Lotteries Act. Instead, both in order to protect players from the harm caused by gambling and to safeguard the monopoly system, it has been decided to restrict access to gambling.
Payment blocks restrict outgoing payments from the player to those gambling companies that the National Police Board has given a decision on prohibitions to market gambling services in violation of the Lotteries Act.
Payment service providers are in a key position to enforce payment blocks as they have the duty to block payments as required by the National Police Board. Examples of payment services are account transfers, card payments and direct debiting. If payments are not blocked according to the imposed payment blocks, the National Police Board may prohibit initiation and completion of payment transactions related to gambling, and impose a conditional fine to reinforce the prohibition.
Maksuliikenne-estot oik palsta ladattavat tiedostot - EN
Downloadable files
The National Police Board's instructions and guidelines on payment blocking
List of payment blocks (.csv) November 28, 2024
Sha256 hash: a2915dca1e447744f216a66a0dcc49ce1a62c944f2781080a91007648d7e33e5
UKK Maksuliikenne-estot - en
The National Police Board maintains a constantly updated list in a public data network of gambling operators that market gambling services in violation of the Lotteries Act, and whose provision of gambling services the National Police Board has prohibited based on the Lotteries Act.
If the list on the website is empty, there are no payment blocks for gambling companies.
Payment service and virtual currency providers are obligated to block payments targeted at companies on this list, in which the payer is a natural person.
Payment service providers must block your payment to the gambling company on the list, which means that your money will not leave your account.
The National Police Board cannot answer questions related to the technical implementation of payments and payment blocks. You should turn to your payment service provider.
The legislation related to payment blocks is binding legislation only for payment service providers and virtual currency providers. Players will not be held accountable for completed and unblocked payment transactions.
Payment blocks are not applied to consumers living in the Åland Islands.
Payment blocks apply to all forms of payment.
Provision and marketing of gambling services in violation of the Lotteries Act is a gambling offence. A gambling offence results in a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years.
The National Police Board may submit a report to the police if it suspects that the characteristics of a gambling offence laid down in the Criminal Code of Finland are met. In this case, the police as the investigating authority may investigate unlawful activities in the criminal process.
Gambling on foreign gambling websites is not prohibited under the Lotteries Act. The regulations of the Finnish Lotteries Act or the Consumer Protection Act do not protect consumers on foreign gambling websites.