Finland’s online gamblers will now be subjected to strict monthly loss limits for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, while lottery draws will be suspended entirely.

On Tuesday, Finland’s Interior Ministry announced that the ‘fast-paced gambling games’ available from local gambling monopoly Veikkaus would now be subject to monthly per customer loss limits of €500, down from their previous cap of €2k.

The online limits, which will take effect on May 1 and extend through September 30, will apply to eBingo, virtual betting and online slots and table games (excluding poker). The limits will also apply to online lotteries, although all lottery draws will be temporarily suspended as of May 4. Players will also be required to set their own daily and monthly loss limits that cannot exceed the maximum stated above.

Minister Maria Ohisalo said the new limits were necessary to reduce the potential for gambling harm and would persist even if the pandemic threat recedes before September 30, based on her belief that “consumers’ financial difficulties as a result of the epidemic are likely to continue for longer.”