Finnish lawmakers Timo Heinonen and Jani Mäkelä have collected the highest fees from Veikkaus, the state-owned gambling company, among current members of parliament. An investigation reveals the two politicians received over 38,000 euros combined for their roles on Veikkaus's supervisory board.
Twenty-two sitting parliament members have received payments from Veikkaus during the review period, totaling 241,560 euros. This figure jumps to 675,926 euros when including former MPs who previously served on the company's boards.
The payments raise questions about potential conflicts of interest in Finland's political system. Veikkaus holds a monopoly on gambling operations in Finland, while the same politicians who regulate the company also receive compensation from it.
Heinonen's earnings would have been substantially higher if he had been appointed to Veikkaus's main board in 2017. Then-Prime Minister Juha Sipilä instead appointed his associate Harry Harkimo to the position. Harkimo later resigned from the board over conflict of interest concerns in December 2017.
Political appointments to Veikkaus boards have been controversial for years. In 2019, multiple politicians lost their board positions when Antti Rinne's government took power. The minister responsible for state ownership stated the changes aimed to make Veikkaus operations more responsible.
Between 2017 and 2019, politicians serving on Veikkaus's main board received five-figure annual payments. Former MPs Raimo Vistbacka collected 84,617 euros over three years, while Tuomo Puumala received 81,267 euros and Jutta Urpilainen got 77,067 euros.
Supervisory board members receive considerably smaller fees. Chairman Ville Skinnari earns 800 euros per meeting, while vice-chair Mäkelä receives 600 euros per session. Other supervisory board members get 500 euros per meeting.
Perussuomalaiset party member Jenna Simula ranks fourth in meeting fees, collecting 18,000 euros between 2019 and 2025. Skinnari follows with 16,000 euros accumulated from 2023 to 2025.
Three other politicians have received over 10,000 euros: Ville Tavio and Sinuhe Wallinheimo (both 13,500 euros) and Hanna-Leena Mattila (11,000 euros).
The Veikkaus supervisory board's official role involves monitoring company management and ensuring compliance with laws, corporate regulations, and state owner policies. Yet the substantial payments to sitting politicians create inherent tension between regulatory oversight and financial benefit.
This situation reflects broader debates about political ethics in Nordic countries, where close relationships between public officials and state-owned enterprises frequently draw scrutiny. Finland's gambling monopoly system faces increasing pressure from European Union competition rules and digital gambling platforms.
The payments continue despite growing concerns about gambling addiction in Finland. Critics question whether politicians receiving money from Veikkaus can objectively address problem gambling issues that affect thousands of Finnish citizens.