Veikkaus Pauses Floorball Betting Amid Investigation into Suspicious Activity
Veikkaus Temporarily Halts Betting on Elite Floorball Matches
Veikkaus has announced a temporary suspension of betting on top-tier men’s floorball competitions due to suspicious betting patterns that have prompted an investigation by the Finnish Center for Sports Ethics.
Scope of Suspended Bets and Investigation
The affected wagers involve elite floorball contests, including the F-Liiga, the Finnish Cup, international matches, and other prominent games featuring leading athletes and key representatives from the sport.
Investigation Targets Up to 100 Individuals for Potential Gambling Violations
Although the suspension is temporary, Veikkaus will not resume betting activities until the Finnish Center for Sports Ethics completes its inquiry and decides if any enforcement or disciplinary measures are necessary.
Initial investigations indicate possible wrongdoing, with several individuals now identified and given a chance to respond within a legal timeframe. The probe was triggered by suspicious activities linked to two particular matches: the 2024 Men’s World Championship game between Finland and Norway, and a domestic F-Liiga season game between Classic and SVP in 2024-25.
Regulatory authorities noted unusually large bets on these events, suggesting insider information may have influenced the wagers. Originally, only about a dozen people were suspected, but the ongoing investigation could broaden to implicate up to 100 individuals, potentially marking one of Europe’s largest sports scandals in recent years.
Indefinite Suspension of Floorball Betting Until Investigation is Concluded
The precise nature of the misconduct remains unclear—whether it involved leaking confidential information or deliberately underperforming to manipulate betting outcomes. Regardless, this incident represents one of the most severe violations in contemporary sports.
Veikkaus plans to publish the results of the probe along with those from the ethics center and will impose penalties on those found responsible for violating gambling regulations.
