Police and the Transport and Communications Agency Traficom have announced they are joining forces to intensify the surveillance of illegal gambling advertisements on television and radio.
Only the state-owned gambling firm Veikkaus is permitted to run and market gambling of any kind in Finland. The marketing of any other gambling operations in Finland, or aimed at consumers in the country, is prohibited.
Veikkaus has struggled to compete with international online gambling sites. Earlier this year the company announced job cuts, citing intensifying digital competition and business shifting onto digital channels.
Even though they're not permitted, some advertisements for international gambling sites can still be found on Finnish TV and radio airwaves.
If the TV or radio broadcaster repeatedly violates the ban on gambling marketing, Traficom could make a decision to cancel the company's broadcast license.
The National Institute for Health and Welfare THL has previoulsly stated there is a need for more stringent regulation of gambling marketing in general and that Veikkaus' marketing communication should follow the same lines as the state's health policy communication.