Notification Detail | TRIS - European Commission

Draft Government proposal to Parliament on amendments to the Lotteries Act and certain related Acts

Notification Number:

2021/0245/FIN (Finland)

Date received:

23/04/2021

End of Standstill:

26/07/2021 (25/08/2021) (closed)

Issue of detailed opinion by:

Malta

Draft Text:

FI EN

Final Text:

EN FI FI SV SV

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Message

Message 002

Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2021) 01500
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Translation of the message 001
Notification: 2021/0245/FIN

No abre el plazo - Nezahajuje odklady - Fristerne indledes ikke - Kein Fristbeginn - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délais - Non fa decorrere la mora - Neietekmē atlikšanu - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Ma’ jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dawmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Neotvorí oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Inleder ingen frist - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare.

(MSG: 202101500.EN)
1. MSG 002 IND 2021 0245 FIN EN 23-04-2021 FIN NOTIF

2. FIN

3A. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö
Työllisyys ja toimivat markkinat -osasto
PL 32
FI-00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO
Puhelin +358 (0)295 504 7015, maaraykset.tekniset@tem.fi

3B. Sisäministeriö
PL 26
00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO

Yhteyshenkilöt:
Neuvotteleva virkamies Jukka Tukia
Puhelin: +358 295 488 573
Sähköposti: jukka.tukia@intermin.fi

Neuvotteleva virkamies Elina Rydman
Puhelin: +358 295 488 586
Sähköposti: elina.rydman@intermin.fi

4. 2021/0245/FIN - H10

5. Draft Government proposal to Parliament on amendments to the Lotteries Act and certain related Acts

6. Gambling services

7. -

8. The proposal proposes amendments to the Lotteries Act. The aim of the proposal is to prevent and reduce the economic, social and health-related harm resulting from gambling by adding new provisions to the Lotteries Act in support of this objective. In addition, the proposal aims is to strengthen the ability of the exclusive rights system to channel gambling activities to gambling services subject to the Lotteries Act. This ensures gambling related harm can be more efficiently reduced and prevented. The proposal implements a reform of the Lotteries Act in accordance with the Government Programme to ensure the achievement of the objectives set out in Finland’s gambling policy.

Provisions would be added to the Lotteries Act on the compulsory identification required for using Veikkaus Oy’s gambling services and on the use of Veikkaus Oy’s gambling and player data collected in connection to the implementation of Veikkaus Oy’s games. Provisions would also be added on the extension of the decision to prohibit the marketing of gambling services in violation of the Lotteries Act to natural persons and on the imposition of an administrative fine for engaging in marketing in violation of the Lotteries Act. The amended Lotteries Act would also include provisions for placing restrictions on the accessibility of gambling services outside the scope of the Lotteries Act, which would be targeted at gambling companies engaging in marketing in violation of the Lotteries Act. In addition, the regulations related to Veikkaus Oy’s marketing and to the monitoring of the implementation of its gambling services would be further specified, and provisions on the placement and self-monitoring of slot machines would be added to the Act. The amended Act would also include provisions providing for Veikkaus Oy the opportunity to set up a business-to-business subsidiary for purposes other than gambling activities as well as provisions on the requirements and restrictions on the activities of the subsidiary.

As regards to regulations on other forms of lotteries, the provisions of the Lotteries Act on the implementation and supervision of bingo games would be amended by extending the deadlines for monitoring the maximum value of bingo game prizes and rendering the accounts.

The proposal also includes the necessary amendments to the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police, the Act on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, Market Court Proceedings Act and the Act on the Enforcement of a Fine.

Most of the amendments are intended to enter into force in 2022. The provisions on compulsory identification would enter into force in stages with the aim that from the beginning of 2024, all gambling services would require identification. The provisions on a payment-blocking system are intended to enter into force after the transitional period required for the technical implementation of the system ends.

9. Finland’s national gambling policy and its national gambling regulations are based on an exclusive rights system. The view in Finland has been that an exclusive rights system established with legislation and subject to government supervision is the best method for reducing the negative impacts associated with gambling and for ensuring a high level of consumer protection. The aim of the proposal is to prevent and reduce the economic, social and health-related harm resulting from gambling by adding new provisions to the Lotteries Act supporting this objective and to improve the knowledge base for monitoring harm resulting from gambling and risk assessment. The proposal also aims to assist in the fight against gambling activities in violation of the Lotteries Act and to strengthen Veikkaus Oy’s monitoring of gambling activities and the legal protection of players. In addition, the proposal aims is to strengthen the ability of the exclusive rights system to channel gambling activities to gambling services subject to the Lotteries Act. This ensures gambling related harm can be more efficiently reduced and prevented. At the same time, the exclusive rights system would be made more coherent with EU level legislation.

10. Basic text references: Lotteries Act (1047/2001)
The basic texts have been reported in connection with the previous notification: 2016/247/FIN 2018/538/FIN

11. No

12. -

13. No

14. No

15. The impact assessment is included in the draft Government proposal on amendments to the Lottery Act and certain related acts (starting on page 52).

16. Aspects related to technical barriers to trade

No - the draft has no significant impact on international trade.

Sanitary and crop protections aspects

No - the draft is neither a sanitary nor phytosanitary measure.

**********
European Commission

Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Fax: +32 229 98043
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu

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