In an effort to help cut player losses, Finnish gambling firm, Veikkaus, now requires customers to verify their identity in order to play slots. Under the new system, players must use a virtual identification card available on their phone, and to log in before gambling.
The steps taken expect to result in a decrease in player losses of around €300 million (US$363.2 million).
Veikkaus’ sales director Jari Heino said the change would make it easier for players to stay in control of their gambling, according to iGaming Business.
“If a customer experiences gambling as problematic, as a result of this reform, for example, he has the opportunity to completely prevent himself from gambling on slot machines,” Heino said. “For a large proportion of Finns, gambling is not problematic, but through this measure we want to offer preventive tools to those who are at risk of difficulties.”
A pilot program in October served as a blueprint. Its success expanded the number of regions in November before a roll out nationwide on January 12.
Veikkaus has also reduced the number of slots, with 8,000 removed by year’s end.
In December, the European Gaming and Betting Association asked Finland to end its monopoly status. The country was the only one in the E.U. to retain a gambling monopoly.
In the first half of 2020, Veikkaus reported a 28.1 percent year-on-year decline in gross revenue to €607.2 million and registered €332.7 million in profit, down 33.6 percent, the result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
