Järvinen-Tassopoulos Johanna, Marionneau Virve, Nikkinen Janne
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
University of Helsinki, Finland.
Nordisk Alkohol Nark. 2021 Dec;38(6):631-639. doi: 10.1177/14550725211034030. Epub 2021 Sep 9.
Unlike in other Nordic countries, most of the electronic gambling machines (EGMs) are placed outside the Casino Helsinki and the gambling arcades in Finland. The placement of EGMs in non-casino locations, such as supermarkets, kiosks, and petrol stations, is matter of serious concern. We argue that availability and accessibility of EGMs has led to normalisation and banalisation of gambling in Finland. Exposure to EGMs also put at risk vulnerable populations and problem gamblers, who already suffer from the negative consequences of gambling harms. Gambling companies' self-regulation initiatives and corporate social responsibility programmes are not enough to prevent and limit EGM related gambling harms. We suggest that Finland should follow Norway's example and limit the availability of EGMs and transfer them from non-casino locations to gambling arcades. Finnish EGM policy should be a question of public policy guided by public health concerns.
与其他北欧国家不同，芬兰的大多数电子赌博机（EGM）放置在赫尔辛基赌场和赌博街之外。在非赌场场所，如超市、报亭和加油站放置电子赌博机，是一个令人严重关切的问题。我们认为，电子赌博机的可得性和易接近性导致了芬兰赌博的常态化和平庸化。接触电子赌博机也使弱势群体和问题赌徒面临风险，他们已经受到赌博危害的负面影响。赌博公司的自我监管举措和企业社会责任计划不足以预防和限制与电子赌博机相关的赌博危害。我们建议芬兰应效仿挪威，限制电子赌博机的可得性，并将它们从非赌场场所转移到赌博街。芬兰的电子赌博机政策应该是以公共卫生问题为导向的公共政策问题。
