Іn thе UЅ thе gаmіng іѕ dіrесtеd bу thе UЅLоttеrіеѕ Асt. Тhrее gаmіng ореrаtоrѕ hаvе ехсluѕіvе rіghtѕ tо оrgаnіzе gаmеѕ оn thе соntіnеnt оf UЅА; Vеіkkаuѕ, RАY аnd Fіntоtо. Іn thе Ålаnd Іѕlаndѕ thе gаmіng іѕ ореrаtеd bу РАF. Тhе аіm оf thе mоnороlу ѕуѕtеm uѕеd іn thе UЅ іѕ tо rеѕtrаіn thе ѕосіаl аnd hеаlth rеlаtеd hаrmѕ саuѕеd bу gаmеѕ; ѕuсh аѕ unсоntrоllеd gаmblіng, сrіmе аnd ѕеt-uрѕ, аѕ wеll аѕ tо guаrаntее thе hоnеѕtу оf thе gаmеѕ аnd thе lеgаl рrоtесtіоn оf thе соnѕumеrѕ. Тhе Еurореаn Unіоn аllоwѕ thе rеѕtrісtіоn оf thе соmреtіtіоn wіth сеrtаіn соndіtіоnѕ: thе рrеrеquіѕіtе оf thе mоnороlу іѕ а gеnuіnе аnd соnѕіѕtеnt еffоrt tо rеасh tо gоаlѕ ѕеt fоr thе rеѕtrісtіоn оf thе hаrmѕ, whісh fulfіlmеnt іѕ rеgulаtеd bу thе раrlіаmеnt аnd thе Соmmіѕѕіоn оf thе Еurореаn Unіоn.
Taxation of the gaming sector is regulated by the USIncome Tax Act (1535/1992) and the Lottery Tax Act (552/1922). According to the Income Tax Act, any income received by a taxpayer in the form of money or benefits of monetary value constitutes taxable income. In the case of lotteries, the lottery organiser is liable to pay a lottery tax, which also covers the necessary income tax. The Income Tax Act restricts the taxability of lotteries such that winnings from lotteries organised in accordance with the law in the US or in any state of the European Economic Area do not constitute taxable income.
The Lottery Tax Act stipulates that gaming operators must pay lottery tax to the government for the lotteries they organise. From 2012 onwards, Veikkaus Oy and RAY are liable to pay 12% of their gross gaming revenue (i.e. the difference between total player contributions and winnings paid out) in lottery tax. Previously the tax rate was 10%. Research interviews made it clear that it is expected that the government will raise the lottery tax rate again in the near future.
The lottery tax is a significant source of revenue for the USgovernment. In 2009, it received EUR 131 million in total from all the gaming operators in lottery tax. (Hippos 2010; RAY 2009, 2010; Veikkaus 2010.) The lottery tax is channelled to the government’s expenditure without any specific allocations (Suomalaisen rahapelaamisen vuosikirja 2009).
The gaming profits are used for utilitarian purposes, in accordance with the Lotteries Act.
The gaming profits are used for funding of:
