How Finland’s Digital Lifestyle Is Shaping the Future of Online Entertainment

Finland’s participation in the digital landscape has drawn the attention of tech giants from all over the globe. The country has been a step ahead in technological advancements since the start of the century. The Finnish government has the respect of IT professionals worldwide for its consistent inventiveness and incredible powerful digital infrastructure. It would not be unfair to say that the Finnish maintain a certain digital lifestyle that is shaping global online markets.

Particularly noteworthy is the Finnish push for online entertainment. It seems the residents of the Northern nation are attracted to fun that can be had on the web. The success of the Finnish digital entertainment market can be seen in different industries, from Finnish online casino markets to the success of streaming services in the country. In a world as connected as ours the success of a digital market in a country like Finland can reflect globally. 

The Growing Success of Livestreaming

Streaming services are all the rage right now. Netflix remains one of the most successful entertainment companies in the world despite getting a ton of criticism for recent business practices. Competitor services like Hulu and Disney+ are also more successful than ever. Finland’s film and television streaming market is through the roof. Streaming has become a significant part of Finnish digital culture. It isn’t just mainstream films and TV shows that get attention. Independent online content creators are also more popular in Finland than ever before. 

Part of the reason that Finland’s streaming market is so successful has to do with growing digital technology capabilities. The country is world-renowned for its internet speed. The result is a seamless streaming experience for anyone whose primary source of entertainment is online. The country is also focused quite heavily on developing 5G technology. In doing so, Finland has managed to increase their bandwidth and significantly reduce internet lag. It is no wonder that streaming is their primary source of entertainment right now. 

A Passion for Online Casinos

The iGaming market is on the rise worldwide. The United States alone sees billions of dollars going into online casinos and poker tournaments on the net. The regulations imposed on online gambling ensures that Finnish players will always have access to respectable and legitimate online casinos. But, do Finland’s residents have a passion for online gambling? Believe it or not, Finland has the second biggest iGaming market in Europe. It is only behind the United Kingdom in terms of revenue generation and amount gambled annually. 

A Finnish player also happens to hold a special place in iGaming history. The anonymous slot fan has won the second-highest slot pay out in world history. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering that online casinos in Finland are most popular among men between the ages of 18 and 30. But how is Finland’s passion for online casinos going to change the industry?

Well their plan to end the national monopoly might answer that question. Right now the Finnish gambling market is ruled by Veikkaus. The government has stated that they plan to end this monopoly by 2027. Doing so would open the market for global competition. A whole new market would open for online casino game developers who want to impress the Finnish audience. Finnish gamblers are happy to hear this, considering many have opposed the Veikkaus monopoly for years. 

Why Shop When You Can E-Shop?

Shopping can be a fun pastime for some and a total nightmare for others. Planning a trip to the mall is a hassle if one lives kilometers away. It is no wonder then that e-commerce has been remarkably successful in Finland. The surge in popularity of online shopping is entirely due to the convenience that the practice offers to many of the residents who live in a city’s outskirts, away from the luxurious stores and supermarkets. Of course, that is not all that e-shopping has to offer. 

E-shopping also allows for a lot of diversity. There are plenty of markets on the internet that are not local to Finland. The Finnish people can use the internet to access foreign markets as well, and order anything they can imagine from clothing to electronics. Even rare items can arrive to the most remote parts of the country. But it isn’t just rarities and modern conveniences that are getting delivered directly to Finnish households.

Grocery shopping online is also on the rise. The shift towards e-commerce is largely owed to the growing success of home delivery services. But it is not all positive. Supermarkets have largely managed to stay intact. But small local businesses have either had to adapt or close up shop. A lot of these shops have established an online presence of some kind. Those that were unable to keep up were forced to close their doors. 

Finnish Gamers and Worldwide Recognition

The success of digital entertainment is most obviously reflected in the rise of eSports. Professional gaming is now televised around the globe. However, it wouldn’t have gotten the success it has were it not for the streaming platforms willing to broadcast gaming tournaments in the 2010s. Finland has played a crucial role in the eSports market from its very start, and continues to thrive in the scene to this day. 

Over 2000 Finnish players have accumulated a total that exceeds 30 million US dollars. They’ve accomplished this by participating in different tournaments and competing at the highest level. Finnish players particularly shine in Dota 2. Defense of the Ancients 2 is the sequel to the first multiplayer online battle arena ever released. Jesse Vainikka is Finland’s most successful and most popular professional gamer. Though retired as a pro, JerAx is still remembered and celebrated by many of Finland’s most dedicated gamers. 

Though Dota 2 is the most successful game in Finland, the country’s eSports scene seems to be mostly focused on first-person shooter games. Counter Strike 2 and Valorant are the two most notorious games in Finnish professional gaming. While the country’s eSports scene is growing it is still nowhere near that of their neighbors in Sweden. But, the growing interest in digital technology may just change that in the future.