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. A list of such companies can be found at the side of this page. 

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.