A big new study project in the Nordic region has started collecting data, which will help officials learn more about gaming habits and issues. The study, which is being run by Sweden's Spelinspektionen, includes over 150,000 people from Sweden, Finland, and Norway. The research seeks to delineate trends in gambling involvement, associated dangers, and protective factors across national markets, thereby aiding in the formulation of future regulations and interventions. It is a coordinated effort to get the Nordic gaming industry to use evidence-based policies.
What the Study Is About
On November 24, 2025, Spelinspektionen said that the data-gathering phase of the collaborative Nordic gaming study had begun. The study is called "unique" for the area because it includes people from Sweden, Finland, and Norway all working together on the same topic. About 150,000 participants will be chosen to take part in the activity in total.
The study will investigate many subjects, including gambling behaviours, game preferences, frequency of play, the prevalence of gambling-related harm, and the influence of demographic, social, and psychological factors. The project encompasses many countries with analogous yet unique gaming regulatory frameworks, providing comparative insights.
Spelinspektionen said that the data will assist people learn more about both gambling involvement and gambling disorders, which will help with policy creation and prevention activities.
Organisations Taking Part and Their Scope
Spelinspektionen (Sweden) is the main organisation, and it works with the authorities in Finland and Norway that are in charge of the same things. The press release is from the Swedish regulator, but it is clear that it is for the whole Nordic and transnational area. The sample size (around 150,000) is rather big for gambling research in the area, which gives the project statistical power and breadth.
The initiative shows that regulators are becoming more interested in using large-scale surveys and behavioural data to shape gambling laws and public policy.
Significance of the Nordic Research Initiative
Across regulated markets, policymakers are nonetheless worried about people who gamble and the problems that come with it. The authorities want to get around the problems with smaller national studies by doing a combined Nordic study. They want to get data that can be compared across jurisdictions.
The multi-country method helps us figure out how different rules or cultures could affect how people gamble. It also helps interventions based on evidence. Regulators may make more focused tactics by knowing who is more at risk and what protective variables lower harm.
The report shows that authorities are working harder to map, monitor, and control the risks that come with gambling for both the public and players.
**Q: What is the main goal of the Nordic gambling study? A: The study's goal is to find out how many people in Sweden, Finland, and Norway gamble, how often they do it, what types of games they play, what difficulties they could have with gambling, and other aspects that might be related to gambling. This information will help with regulation and prevention efforts.
**Q: Who is doing the study? ** A: Sweden's Spelinspektionen is the main regulator, and the project will work with similar agencies in Finland and Norway.
**Q: How many people will be helping with the data collection? A: The study sample will consist of approximately 150,000 individuals from the three Nordic nations.
**Q: What makes this study different? A: Its size, cross-jurisdictional reach in the Nordic region, and wide range of data collecting make it unique. Not many other gambling studies in the area have been as wide-ranging.
**Q: When will the results be ready? ** A: The gathering of data has barely begun; the notice did not include specific deadlines for reporting. The regulators are likely to make more statements.
Regulatory Outlook for the Region
The start of this big Nordic gambling study is a big step forward for regulatory science in the gambling industry. Now that data collecting has started, the authorities that are taking part will have strong evidence to help them make decisions about policy, prevention, and regulation. The results may lead to new ways of regulating gambling in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and other places.