Finland Grants First 12 Online Gambling Licences, None Rejected
Finland's National Police Board has granted 12 online gambling licences from 79 applications. Holders can serve Finnish players from 1 July 2027.
Key facts
Finland's National Police Board has granted the first 12 licences for the country's new online gambling market, and it has not rejected a single application so far.
- 12 licences granted from 79 applications filed by 26 October 2026
- 67 applications still wait for a decision, including one from state-owned Veikkaus
- Holders may offer games to players in Finland from 1 July 2027 at the earliest
- The first holders to announce their licences say they run for five years
- Licensed operators will pay a 22% lottery tax on gross gaming revenue
Who got Finland's first gambling licences?
The board named the 12 licence holders in reply to an information request from iGaming Business, which reported the figures on 26 October. Until then, only the companies' own announcements had said any licences were granted.
The licences went to these companies:
- Hippos ATG Oy
- Sunflower Gaming Limited
- Granturo Finland Ltd (Wildz Group)
- Skill On Net Ltd
- SuomiVeto Oy
- Cloudberry Ent Limited
- SixthSpin Limited
- KuuFlip Limited
- RocketLily Ent Limited
- Nivei Ursi Limited
- YTBlue Limited
- Buccone Trading Limited
The list gives legal company names, not the casino or betting brands players will see. Wildz Group was the first to announce its licence, on 15 October.
Hippos ATG, a joint venture of Sweden's ATG and Suomen Hippos, followed a few days later. SkillOnNet announced its licence on 27 October.
ComeOn Group's parent, European Entertainment Group, said in a stock-market release on 22 October that ComeOn had been awarded every licence it applied for, covering online casino and sports betting. No company with ComeOn in its name is on the board's list, which shows how little the legal names tell a player.
Why is Veikkaus not on the list yet?
Veikkaus, the state-owned company that holds the current monopoly, has applied for a licence to keep offering online games once competition starts. It was not among the first 12, iGaming Business reported.
After the market opens, Veikkaus keeps its exclusive right to lotteries, scratch cards and land-based gaming machines. Online casino games and betting are the parts that open to private operators.
The other 67 applications are still open. In September the board's target was 6 to 8 months per application, and the law sets no application deadline and no cap on the number of licences.
One company can file several applications, so 79 applications do not mean 79 operators. The count has still grown from the 75 reported in September, which our article on the market opening covered.
What can licence holders do before July 2027?
Nothing that reaches players. Until the end of June 2027, Veikkaus alone may offer and market gambling in mainland Finland, and other operators that target Finland commit an offence under the Criminal Code, the police say.
A licence is only the first step. The National Police Board's licence guidance sets three conditions before a holder can offer or market games, on 1 July 2027 at the earliest:
- The licence has been granted
- The required audits have been carried out
- The holder has finished an integration project that connects it to the regulator's supervision system
Each licence decision also sets the date from which that holder can go live. Wildz Group says its licence runs for five years from 1 July 2027, the longest term a gambling licence can have, and Hippos ATG also describes a five-year licence.
From the same date, licensed operators and Veikkaus will all pay a lottery tax of 22% of gross gaming revenue, meaning stakes minus winnings paid out, according to the Finnish Tax Administration.
How will players spot a licensed site in Finland?
From 1 July 2027, a legal operator must show its licence number, the supervisory authority and the age limit. It must also tell players, in Finnish and Swedish, about tools for managing their gambling and about services that help with gambling problems.
The National Police Board says it will publish the details of valid licences on its website, so a player can check a number against the list. If a site cannot give its licence number, the police say it may be offering illegal gambling.
A licence from another EU or EEA country does not carry over. The board assesses every applicant itself, its licence FAQ says, so a Maltese licence alone will not make a site legal in Finland.
Unlicensed sites carry a cost for players too. People who use them are not protected by Finnish law, the police warn, and winnings from them are taxable income that must be reported to the Tax Administration.
What happens next?
The National Police Board grants licences and decides applications until 30 June 2027. From 1 July 2027 the Finnish Supervisory Agency takes over licensing and supervision.
The Veikkaus decision is the open question that matters most for the market's shape. According to iGaming Business, the state company is expected to start with an advantage from its brand and its existing customer database.
For players in Finland, the date that counts is still 1 July 2027. Until then, the 12 licences change nothing about which sites may legally serve them.
Frequently Asked Questions
12 as of 26 October 2026, out of 79 applications. The National Police Board had rejected none and was still processing the other 67.
On 1 July 2027 at the earliest. Besides the licence, a holder must pass the required audits and connect to the regulator's supervision system before it can go live.
Not yet. Veikkaus has applied but was not among the first 12. It keeps its exclusive right to lotteries, scratch cards and land-based gaming machines after the market opens.
From July 2027, a licensed site must show its licence number, the supervisory authority and the age limit. The National Police Board says it will publish the details of valid licences on its website.
At most five years, the National Police Board says. Wildz Group and Hippos ATG, the first two holders to announce their licences, say theirs run for the full five years, and Wildz Group says its licence starts on 1 July 2027.
Daniel Kovacs is a seasoned online casino reviewer known for his analytical approach and no-nonsense writing style. With a background in digital marketing and a long-standing interest in probability and game mechanics, he built his reputation by breaking down complex casino systems into clear, practical insights for everyday players. He started his career freelancing for niche gambling blogs before launching his own review platform, where he focuses on transparency—testing bonuses, verifying payout speeds, and digging into terms that most players overlook. Daniel is particularly respected for his deep dives into slot RTPs, customer support responsiveness, and real user experiences.
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