Online gambling activity in finland 2006–2016

Abstract

The article examines the recent trends in online gambling in Finland from 2006 to 2016. The data are derived from the “Use of Information and Communication Technology Statistics by Individuals and Household Survey” collected by Statistics Finland (N = 29,214). The analysis focuses on the frequencies of online gambling and the amounts of money spent on gambling applications in different population groups. The findings suggest that while online gambling has become more common in Finland, the amounts of money spent have decreased. Certain persisting differences by economic and socio-demographic characteristics are also detected. In particular, males, employed and under 40-year-old citizens are more likely than others to gamble. However, older people tend to spend higher amounts of money online. In addition, the probabilities of being a gambler are higher among less educated Finns. What is also noteworthy is that online gambling is clearly associated with the overall internet use frequencies and internet use purposes of the respondents. However, the internet use patterns do not associate as clearly with the amounts of money spent on the gaming applications.