Why is NHL still the most popular game in Finland? - Ultimate Guide

The hectic play and hard-hitting action of ice hockey remains a firm favorite for many fans in Finland. The country is home to many thousands of people who flock to hockey games throughout the winter and spring. This is one of the many reasons why NHL is still the most played video game in Finland, even after so many years.

Many other professional sports, like tennis and soccer, also boast big audiences. However, there's something special about ice hockey when it comes to sports, since it combines speed and aggression with teamwork skills. This is what makes it possible for anyone to have fun while watching these games.

Finnish culture in video games

One stereotype of Finland is that people can often be a bit shy. Furthermore, the cold climate lends itself to staying indoors and entertaining yourself there. Unsurprisingly, this means that Finns really love playing video games — especially sporting games. It feels good to get together with friends and cheer on your team's on-screen exploits when you're feeling chilly.

Without doubt, NHL is the video game Finns love the most. With updated versions every year, it's one of Finland's most popular Christmas presents and many young Finnish men and women consider triumphing over the league as a rite of passage.

Finnish people also love sports betting. Betting is a great way to heighten the excitement of a game, by having a genuine stake in it. Finns also like betting against each other on sports events, so it is natural this extends itself to offering bets when groups of friends are playing NHL or other video games. Finnish culture has a strong tradition of sports betting, especially now there is such big money in esports like NHL — so it's no surprise that this remains an essential part of Finnish culture. You can read more about Finnish betting on a specialized page called Pikkakasinoja.com.

What is NHL

In its original definition, NHL is North America's National Hockey League. It consists of 25 ice hockey teams from the USA and seven Canadian teams. The NHL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and with good reason. It has even inspired an international version, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This league is made up of 22 clubs based from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan and Russia.

In addition to hosting many great games to watch, NHL is also an incredibly successful league in terms of marketing and revenue. The Finnish national team even uses the NHL as its primary source of inspiration for its uniforms and other gear.

NHL is also the name of the video game based on the league and its teams. The title has been around since the early 1990s and is the most popular game in Finland. It has now become a staple of Finnish culture.

Reasons why hockey is Finland's favorite sport

Unquestionably, ice hockey is the most popular sport in Finland. The Finns love playing all kinds of games, but hockey is the one they love most. Although less physically demanding sports such as soccer are more accessible and winter sports like skiing suit the environment, hockey is very social. This makes it easier to enjoy with friends and family.

This social aspect also helps to explain why the NHL video game is top-rated among Finns. Many people play NHL on their computers while they are at work or school (and even during meetings). It's also common to see people playing at restaurants and cafés during lunch breaks when they don't have anything else to do.

A national obsession

Hockey can easily claim to be Finland's favorite sport because of its popularity among the country's largest hockey-playing population. However this is not just limited to watching. The country also has one of the largest active playing populations per capita. An estimated 2.6 million are active hockey players in Finland, making it the most popular participant sport in the country. This number has been steadily increasing over time, with more than a million new players joining the sport during the past decade.

In addition to its popularity among Finnish citizens, the NHL's success on television and radio has also contributed to its status as Finland's top broadcast sport. The league has provided more than three billion hours of TV coverage since 1992 and it's broadcast across multiple channels throughout the country.