Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has launched a preliminary study to assess whether scratchcards can be given as gifts under current and future gambling legislation, reopening a debate that has emerged following recent regulatory reforms.
The project will examine whether winnings from a scratchcard can be legally claimed by someone other than the individual who purchased it. The study will culminate in an assessment memorandum and is scheduled to conclude by 31 March 2026.
The issue arose following amendments to Finland’s Lottery Act in 2022, which introduced mandatory player identification for all gambling activities operated by state monopoly Veikkaus.
When these identification requirements were extended to scratchcards at the start of 2024, the change effectively ended the practice of buying scratchcards as gifts, as winnings could only be claimed by the registered purchaser.
In December 2025, Finland’s Parliament approved a new Gambling Act, set to largely enter into force on 1 July 2027. During the legislative process, expert hearings held by Parliament’s Administrative Committee highlighted potential inconsistencies between the existing Lottery Act and the forthcoming Gambling Act.
Lawmakers noted that the current framework does not allow gift recipients to redeem scratchcard prizes, despite scratchcards traditionally being marketed as low-threshold products often exchanged as presents.
As part of the Act’s approval, Parliament issued a formal statement requiring the Government to investigate the issue without delay and, where necessary, prepare legislative amendments to enable scratchcards to be given as gifts while maintaining player protection objectives.
The Ministry’s project will review relevant provisions in both the Lottery Act and the new Gambling Act, assess the specific characteristics of scratchcard products and evaluate the potential impacts of any legislative changes. This includes consideration of consumer behaviour, identification requirements and broader gambling harm prevention goals.
The scratchcard investigation comes alongside other regulatory developments in Finland's gambling sector. The Ministry of the Interior recently announced that licensing applications will open on 1 March 2026, with fees set at €29,000 ($35,000) for exclusive and gambling licences.
Additionally, Finland has authorised a new regulatory body under the Permit and Supervision Agency, which will assume oversight responsibilities from the National Police Board when the market launches, with powers to issue fines, revoke licences and block non-compliant operators.
Finland’s new Gambling Act is expected to take effect on 1 July 2027, introducing a licensed market alongside stricter player identification and regulatory oversight
