PAF (gambling monopoly)

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Ålands Penningautomatförening or PAF is a Finnish company that operates a legal gambling monopoly on the Åland Islands, Finland. PAF also has an Internet-based gambling and gaming operation, in addition to operating and maintaining casino and gaming activities on a large number of cruise ships. The purpose of PAF is to generate funds for humanitarian and social causes on the Åland Islands. PAF also have subsidies in Sweden and Estonia.

PAF's counterpart in Mainland Finland is the state-owned gambling institution RAY ("Raha-automaattiyhdistys" in Finnish). Disputes over jurisdiction between the two associations are ongoing.
In February of 2005, PAF was sentenced for violation of gambling law for actively promoting its online gambling activities to Mainland Finland. In December, PAF was yet again placed under investigation, as Finland's interior minister Kari Rajamäki alleged that PAF had continued its gambling in Finland while ignoring its last sentence. Representatives for PAF disputes Rajamäki's claims and contend PAF operate within the boundaries of the law.

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