Whistleblowing channel

Through the Whistleblowing Channel, Veikkaus Group employees, individuals in comparable positions, and representatives of our partners can report observations related to suspected misconduct or criminal activity, or actions that may be in violation of Veikkaus’ ethical principles.

The channel can also be used to report suspected breaches or neglect of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and related regulations by Veikkaus or its agents. In matters related to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, reports may also be submitted by agents or individuals employed by them.

The Whistleblowing Channel helps us improve our operations by enabling early intervention in potential issues.

What Can Be Reported

A report can be submitted to Veikkaus’ Whistleblowing Channel if you observe:

• A suspected violation or misconduct within Veikkaus Group that falls under the scope of the Whistleblower Protection Act,
• A suspected breach of the Anti-Money Laundering Act or related regulations by Veikkaus or by a party selling Veikkaus’ games (an agent), or
• Conduct within Veikkaus Group that goes against the ethical principles outlined in Veikkaus’ Code of Conduct.

We Encourage You to Report Any Concerns Without Delay

Before making a report, you should consider whether the matter could be addressed directly with your supervisor or another appropriate contact person. If this is not possible, you may use the whistleblowing channel. Reports can be submitted either anonymously or with your name, and in Finnish, Swedish, or English.

You are not required to provide concrete evidence to support your suspicion, but there must be a justified reason for reporting. The report must be made honestly and in good faith. Knowingly submitting false information is prohibited and may lead to legal consequences.

Veikkaus is committed to protecting all individuals who report in good faith and to ensuring that no retaliatory action is taken against them.

If you wish to make a report via the Whistleblowing Channel,
you can do so from here. The form will guide you through the reporting process.

The channel is operated by an external and impartial service provider, Granite Partners Oy, using the dedicated Whistleblow system. No IP address or other identifying information about the whistleblower is stored in the system.

When using the reporting channel, all communication related to the handling of your report will primarily take place through the system. After submitting your report, you will receive a PIN code and a unique link. It is very important to write these down. They allow you to return to your report to provide additional information if requested, and to read Veikkaus’ response to your report.

Please note that the channel is not intended for urgent reports, which should be submitted through a separate procedure.

The channel is also not intended for customer feedback. Feedback can be provided by contacting Veikkaus’ customer service.

Reporting via the Whistleblowing Channel is completely confidential. The identity of the whistleblower, the subject of the report, and any other individuals mentioned in the report, along with all personal data, are protected.

Only persons appointed by Veikkaus and authorised investigative personnel from an external handler have the right to process reports and related information.

The receipt, preliminary handling, and communication within the channel are managed by our outsourced partner, the audit and investigation firm BDO Oy. Further processing of the report, necessary investigations, and subsequent actions are primarily the responsibility of Veikkaus’ Compliance Officer and Security Director. If needed, the report will be referred for consideration and decision-making to a separate resolution body appointed by Veikkaus’ Board. The members of this resolution body include the Chair of Veikkaus’ Audit and Responsibility Committee, the General Counsel, and the HR Director.

In some cases, external experts or authorities may be needed to assist with investigations. Even then, investigations are conducted in a way that safeguards the whistleblower’s identity wherever possible. Individuals assisting in internal investigations at Veikkaus sign a separate confidentiality agreement.

The whistleblowing channel and the handling process comply with the requirements of the European Union Whistleblower Directive, the corresponding national Whistleblower Protection Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. We process all reports carefully and in accordance with our data protection principles. For more information, please see our Privacy Statement (in Finnish) concerning the Whistleblowing Channel and our General Privacy Statement (in Finnish).

Thank you for helping us maintain responsible business practices.

External Reporting

Veikkaus’ Whistleblowing Channel is the primary means for reporting suspected violations. A report can be made here. However, if the whistleblower does not receive a reasonable explanation within three (3) months of the report being acknowledged, or has valid grounds to believe that Veikkaus’ decision-making in the matter is affected by a conflict of interest, they may submit the report directly to the competent authority or to the central whistleblowing channel maintained by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice.

Reporting to an authority on these grounds is only possible if the matter falls within the scope of the Whistleblower Protection Act.