Paf (company)
Native name | Ålands Penningautomatförening |
|---|---|
| Type | Government agency |
| Industry | Gambling & casinos |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Mariehamn, , |
Area served | Worldwide except non-regulated countries |
Key people | Christer Fahlstedt (CEO) |
| Products | Slots, bingo, casino, poker, online betting, live betting, lotteries |
| Services | Online gambling, slot machines, casino services |
| Revenue | €214.5 million (2025) |
| €57.2 million (2025) | |
Number of employees | 295 (2025) |
| Parent | Ålands Penningautomatförening |
| Subsidiaries | paf.es |
| Website | www |
Ålands Penningautomatförening (commonly abbreviated Paf) is a government-owned gambling operator in the autonomous Finnish region of Åland.[1] Established in 1966, it has legal authority under Åland’s gambling framework to provide gambling on the islands, online, and on passenger vessels operating from the region.[1][2]
Paf’s operations include online gambling, gambling on board passenger ships in the Baltic Sea and surrounding Nordic sea routes, and land-based gaming such as slot machines on Åland.[2][1]
Paf generates funds for the benefit of society
The Government of Åland and a allocation council allocates all of Paf's surplus to public benefit associations, organisations and charitable causes. Since its founding in 1966, Paf has distributed a total of more than €527.9 million for the benefit of society.[3][4]
In 2024, the Government of Åland donated three million euros from Paf's funds to the Olena Zelenska Foundation, aimed at restoring and equipping school shelters in Ukraine.[5] Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Åland on 20 March 2025 in connection with the donation.[6]
History
Paf was founded in 1966 by a group of non-profit organisations in Åland, including Folkhälsan på Åland, Rädda Barnen (Save the Children), the Röda Korset (Finnish Red Cross), and the Dagens Barn foundation.[7]
The company began operating on Åland-registered ferries in the early 1970s, and launched its first online games in 1999.[7]
In 2015, Paf and Sunborn Hotel opened Casino Sunborn in Gibraltar.[8] The casino was sold to Admiral in 2018.[9]
In 2021, the Supreme Court of Finland sentenced Paf to a community fine of €250,000 in a case concerning negligent money laundering.[10]
In 2024, Paf announced a commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).[11]
Operations
Paf provides gambling services online, on cruise ships, and through physical slot machines located on Åland. The company's services are available internationally, excluding non-regulated markets.
Responsible gambling initiatives
In 2018, Paf became the first international gaming company to introduce a mandatory annual loss limit, initially set at €30,000 per customer.[12] The limit has been progressively lowered since then. As of 2026, the limit stands at €15,000 per year for customers aged 25 and over, €6,000 for those aged 20–24, and €1,800 for customers aged 18–19 – representing a 50% reduction from the original cap.[13] Paf has stated a long-term ambition to lower the limit further to €8,000 per year.[14]
Awards and recognition
- 2014 – Social Responsibility Award, eGaming Review Operator Awards.[15]
- 2017 – Social Responsibility Award, eGaming Review Nordic Awards.
- 2018 – Best Marketing Campaign, eGaming Review Nordics Awards.
- 2018 – Named one of Finland's 40 most inspiring workplaces by consulting firm Corporate Spirit Ltd.[16]
References
- ^ a b c Lerkkanen, Tuulia; Hellman, Matilda (2021). "Resilience and autonomy at stake: The public construct of the Paf gambling company in the Åland Islands community" (PDF). Island Studies Journal. 16 (1): 341–362. doi:10.24043/isj.144. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
- ^ a b Nikkinen, Janne; Pihkala, Anni; Marionneau, Virve (2023). "Between offshore competition and a duopoly: Gambling provision on and from the Finnish Åland Islands" (PDF). Nordic Journal on Law and Society. 6 (1): 1–20. doi:10.36368/njolas.v6i01.319. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
- ^ "Paf Contributes More Than Half a Billion Euros for Benefit of Society Since its Foundation in 1966". EEGaming. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Paf passes societal contributions milestone amid record profits". Intergame Online. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Inget krav på Ålandsbesök av Zelenska". Ålandstidningen. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Ukrainas första dam Olena Zelenska besökte Ålands lagting". Ålands lagting. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ a b "The history of Paf". Paf. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Casino Sunborn License Granted". Essential Marbella Magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-05-14. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Sunborn and Casino Admiral join forces on new venture". Chronicle.gi. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Penningtvätt av oaktsamhet". Finlex Data Bank (in Swedish). Finland's Ministry of Justice. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Paf commits to reach Net-Zero by 2040". Aboutpaf. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Paf.com First International Gambling Company to Introduce Loss Limit". PRNewswire. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Paf reduces loss limit again amid Finnish regulatory changes". SBC News. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Paf targets €8,000 annual player loss limit after latest reduction". iGaming Business. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ^ "Paf wins award for social responsibility". Intergame. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Paf is one of the most inspiring workplaces in Finland – wins "Most Improved" prize". News Powered by Cision. Retrieved 3 January 2021.