During a press conference the Finnish state-owned gambling monopoly Veikkaus announced its 5-year plan for a considerable reduction of slot machines. The decision can be attributed to the criticism it faced because of social responsibility failures.
Currently, Veikkaus is in charge of 18,500 slot machines located at supermarkets and kiosks. Over the next year, their number will be reduced to 14,000. By the end of 2024, Veikkaus will run no more than 10,500 slot machines. Earlier this year, the betting agency announced that it would cut the number to 15, 500.
Predictions are that the slot machines reduction will result in a €150 – €200 mln annual profit loss.
