“You need to control your game” – Sami Hyypiä talks about responsible gaming
A good game easily brings out strong emotions – also in money gaming. Football legend Sami Hyypiä reminds us that in any game you need to know your limits and keep the game under control. At Veikkaus, we support the wellbeing and gambling control of young players with special care calls.
Former national team captain Sami Hyypiä talks about safe and controlled gaming in Veikkaus’ “Control Your Game” videos. Gaming stays enjoyable when you stick to amounts that suit your budget and only wager what you're prepared to lose without regret.
– It felt natural for me to take part in this campaign, because in every kind of game we talk about the same things: knowing yourself, having patience and setting your own limits. Whatever the game, it’s important that the player controls the game – not the other way round, Hyypiä says.
According to Hyypiä, money gaming should clearly remain a form of entertainment. If it no longer feels good, it’s time to take a break.
– During my playing career I saw how emotions and pressure can take over. Unfortunately, I have also seen up close what uncontrolled gambling can lead to at its worst. That’s why I want to speak especially to young people and remind them that gambling is not a way to fix your finances. I hope players stop to think about when the game is still fun – and when it starts to be too much, Hyypiä says.
The “Control Your Game” videos featuring Hyypiä will be published during the spring in Veikkaus’ digital channels. Players can also reflect on their own gambling habits and explore the tools Veikkaus offers for gambling control.
Can we talk about gaming for a moment?
Veikkaus has worked for years to promote safer gaming, and communication and support have been targeted especially at young players to help them keep control of their play. One example of this work is our care calls – phone calls where we take the time to talk with young customers about their gambling and its limits. Our customer service made about 1,400 care calls to young players last year.
The calls are made by customer service professionals who specialize in care calls. For many young players, it was the first time anyone had asked them directly about their gambling.
– During the call, we ask what kind of thoughts and feelings gambling brings up for the young person. We also go through the tools that help keep gaming under control and, when needed, tell them about options for getting professional help, says VP Sustainability at Veikkaus, Susanna Saikkonen.
Many of the young people contacted are at the beginning of independent life and are still learning how to manage money and everyday responsibilities. This is reflected in the topics that come up in care calls: basic money management, budgeting for gambling and how it fits into their overall finances.
– Research shows that young people are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harm, and we want to address this sooner rather than later. It is important to increase young people’s awareness of their own gambling behaviour and encourage them to think about whether the amount of money they spend on gambling fits their financial situation, Saikkonen says.
Veikkaus started making care calls in 2022 with about 2,000 calls. Thanks to positive experiences, the number of calls has been increased. In 2025, more than 6,000 care calls were made, around 1,400 of which were targeted at young players.
Watch Sami Hyypiä’s “Control Your Game” videos here (in Finnish).
