Veikkaus halts Finland floorball wagers as betting scandal builds momentum

Summary

Finnish monopoly operator Veikkaus has suspended betting on elite men’s floorball markets after uncovering widespread violations earlier this year. The pause covers the F-Liiga, Finnish Cup, certain international fixtures and other contests while disciplinary decisions are awaited following an investigation by the Finnish Centre for Sports Ethics (SUEK).

SUEK’s probe — which began after unusual wagering patterns were flagged in June and earlier incidents involving the Finland national team and an F-Liiga playoff match — has found no evidence of criminal activity to date, but has identified extensive breaches of sporting rules. Around 100 players, coaches and staff across all teams are reported to have violated betting regulations, with many admitting breaches in clear-cut cases.

Key Points

Veikkaus has stopped taking wagers on elite men’s floorball (F-Liiga), Finnish Cup and selected international games until disciplinary processes conclude.
The suspension follows suspicious betting activity first flagged in June and earlier incidents involving national and domestic matches.
SUEK is leading the match-fixing probe; it reports breaches of sporting rules but has not found criminal offences so far.
Approximately 100 players, coaches and employees are implicated, making this the largest scandal in SUEK’s seven-year history.
Many of the identified cases reportedly involve small bet volumes and admissions of rule-breaking by subjects of the investigation.
Veikkaus says it will reassess market availability after disciplinary decisions; SUEK aims to finalise findings this month with the SSBL to issue sanctions thereafter.
The situation adds integrity, regulatory and reputational pressure on operators as Finland prepares for iGaming market liberalisation.

Context and relevance

This story matters to operators, regulators, bettors and integrity teams. It highlights how suspicious wagering patterns can reveal systemic rule-breaking within a sport and prompt market suspensions. The scale — involving representatives from every F-Liiga team and dating back to the 2021-22 season — raises questions about governance, monitoring and the effectiveness of current betting prohibitions for players and staff.

For the gambling industry, the episode underscores the need for robust suspicious-activity detection, close cooperation between operators and sport authorities, and clear disciplinary processes. It also arrives at a sensitive time for Veikkaus, which recently reported a drop in H1 revenues amid preparations for Finland’s market liberalisation.

Why should I read this?

Because this isn’t a one-off blip — it’s a proper headache for integrity teams and anyone taking bets on Nordic sports. If you care about market risk, regulatory fallout or the credibility of betting markets, the details here could save you time and a lot of awkward questions later.

Author style

Punchy: this is big, fast-moving and affects operators and sports bodies alike. The scale makes it essential reading for compliance officers, sportsbook risk managers and anyone tracking match-fixing trends — don’t skip the granular bits if you run markets or advise clients in the region.