Amendments to the Lotteries Act and the Gambling Act sent out for public consultation: allowing scratch cards to be given as gifts moves forward
The Ministry of the Interior is requesting views on a draft government proposal for amending the Lotteries Act and the Gambling Act. The proposed amendments would allow scratch cards to be given as gifts. The public consultation round will end on 13 August 2026.
Scratch cards were brought under mandatory identification requirements at the beginning of 2024. Following this change, it has no longer been possible for anyone other than the buyer to claim the prize on a scratch card. This change prevented the purchase of scratch cards as gifts.
In the proposal, the Government would revise the rules on gambling subject to mandatory identification and on claiming winnings so that the prize on a scratch card could be claimed by another person aged 18 or over, not only the person who bought the card.
The purchaser would have to be a registered player with Veikkaus Oy and, under the new gambling system entering into force on 1 July 2027, with the holder of an exclusive licence. The purchaser would need to buy the scratch card as a registered player. The person claiming the prize would have to be at least 18 years old. Veikkaus Oy or, in future, the holder of an exclusive licence or its agent would have to verify the person’s age. The person claiming the prize would not need to be a registered player with Veikkaus Oy or the holder of an exclusive licence.
The government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament during the autumn session of 2026. The act on the temporary amendment of the Lotteries Act is intended to enter into force as soon as possible and remain in force until 1 July 2027. The amendments to the Gambling Act are proposed to enter into force on 1 July 2027.
On 20 April 2026, the Ministry of the Interior published a feasibility study examining whether a person other than the purchaser could claim a prize included in a scratch card. The study concluded that allowing scratch cards to be given as gifts would require amendments to the Lotteries Act and the Gambling Act.
Inquiries:
Jukka Tukia, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 573, [email protected]