A strategic tool called channeling can help regulate offshore gambling. Channeling is the attempt by national authorities to direct online gambling towards the regulated market. The purpose of this study was to examine the arguments that stakeholders in Finland made concerning channeling measures. A total of 18 people were interviewed. Participants included Finnish public servants and representatives of the state-owned gambling company. The participants discussed the loss of market share to offshore providers. They viewed channeling as an important policy tool. Many felt that channeling can help prevent gambling harms. Some viewed channeling as a way to help retain customers on the licensed and regulated gambling site. They felt that offshore gambling is more harmful than gambling on a national, regulated website. Participants also discussed the benefits and drawbacks of a potential licensing regime. The researchers proposed a new regulatory model that represents the Finnish online gambling policy starting in 2018, which is called the ‘dam model.’
