Finland Opens Its Gambling Market to Private Operators as Licence Applications Surge
Finland had received 75 gambling licence applications by 22 September 2026 for a market that opens to private operators on 1 July 2027.
A Historic Shift Away from the Monopoly Model
Update, October 2026: The National Police Board had received 75 licence applications by 22 September 2026, up from about 50 in June, and had not yet decided on any of them, Yle reported. Its target processing time is now 6 to 8 months. The board has since granted its first licences, as our report on Finland's first licence decisions explains.
Finland is moving away from its long-standing state monopoly and opening its online casino market to private operators. Licensed operators can start running and marketing gambling games on 1 July 2027, when the new Gambling Act takes effect, the Ministry of the Interior said on 26 January 2026.
Parliament adopted the act on 16 December 2025 and the President approved it on 16 January 2026, according to the Ministry's project page. The Ministry notes that Denmark and Sweden already combine a state monopoly with a licensed competitive market in a similar way.
Applications could be submitted to Finland's National Police Board from 1 March 2026. By 8 June 2026 the board had received about 50, mostly from foreign companies, iGaming Business reported.
The main dates of the reform:
Date | What happened or happens |
|---|---|
16 December 2025 | Parliament adopts the Gambling Act |
16 January 2026 | The President approves the act |
1 March 2026 | Licence applications open at the National Police Board |
8 June 2026 | About 50 applications received |
10 June 2026 | Four draft decrees under the act sent out for comment |
5 August 2026 | Comment period on the draft decrees closes |
22 September 2026 | 75 applications received, none decided |
1 July 2027 | Licensed market opens and the Finnish Supervisory Agency takes over licensing and supervision |
1 July 2028 | Licence holders may only use software from licensed gambling software suppliers |
How the Licensing Process Works
Each application costs €29,000 in 2026, charged whether the decision is positive or negative, according to the National Police Board. Its licence FAQ adds that an application does not proceed until the fee is paid.
In June the board aimed to process applications in about six months, iGaming Business reported. Its target is now 6 to 8 months, and it warns that incomplete applications can take longer.
There is no application deadline, and the law does not cap the number of operators, Yle reported. That sets Finland apart from New Zealand, which will issue up to 15 online casino licences by auction. Operators that want to trade from day one need a decision before 1 July 2027.
A gambling licence lasts up to 5 years. The exclusive licence, which in practice only a Veikkaus Group company can hold, always runs for 10 years, the FAQ says.
Licensed operators will be permitted to offer betting, online casino games, online slot machines and online bingo. Lotteries, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games stay with the state-owned Veikkaus, the Ministry of the Interior says.
From 1 July 2027, licence holders and Veikkaus will all pay a lottery tax of 22% of gross gaming revenue, according to the Finnish Tax Administration.
Regulatory Responsibilities and the New Supervisory Agency
Until 30 June 2027, licensing and supervision remain with the National Police Board. From 1 July 2027 those duties pass to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will also start issuing gambling software licences, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The agency already exists. It began work on 1 January 2026 as a national licensing and supervision authority, taking over duties from Valvira, the Regional State Administrative Agencies and the ELY Centres, which closed at the end of 2025. Gambling joins its remit at the handover.
Applications filed after the handover go to the Supervisory Agency rather than the Police Board, the Police Board says. From 1 July 2028, licence holders may only use gambling software supplied by a holder of a gambling software licence.
Outstanding Guidance on Marketing and Responsible Gambling
The Gambling Act sets the main marketing standards. Advertising on television, radio and in newspapers is allowed, while influencer marketing and telephone direct marketing are banned. All marketing must state the age limit and point to tools for managing gambling problems, the Ministry of the Interior says.
The detail is still missing. Jarkko Nordlund, head of iCasino and sportsbook at Veikkaus, said operators did not yet know how they could use bonuses, which advertising and media were allowed, or what duty of care and player protection would require, iGaming Business reported in June 2026.
On 10 June 2026 the Ministry sent four draft decrees out for comment, including one on maximum stakes for online casino games and the features of online slots. Comments closed on 5 August 2026, and the Ministry's project to prepare the decrees runs until 28 February 2027.
The drafts would cap online slot stakes at €20 per spin, or €10 for players under 25, and ban autoplay, iGaming Business reported. Our report on stricter rules in the Netherlands and Finland covers the draft product restrictions in more detail.
The Police Board's marketing guidance still reflects the old Lotteries Act, under which only Veikkaus may market gambling until 30 June 2027. The board says the page will be updated as the new law's start date approaches.
The Offshore Challenge and Consumer Protection Goals
One of the central aims of the reform is to bring offshore play under Finnish rules. The Ministry of the Interior says the act should reduce gambling harm and raise the channelling rate: the share of gambling that takes place on services regulated and supervised in Finland.
Some large international operators were already offering games to Finnish players before the licensing system, Yle reported, citing University of Helsinki researcher Janne Nikkinen. He warned that more supply and more marketing could cause problems for people who already struggle with their gambling.
Consumer protection rules are already set in the act, according to the Ministry:
- The minimum age stays at 18, and all gambling requires strong identification
- Players must set daily and monthly limits on transfers to their player account with each operator
- One central system lets players self-exclude from every licence holder at once, and they can also block specific games
- Licence holders must monitor player behaviour and offer tools to prevent gambling harm
- Breaches can bring administrative fines, penalty payments and, as a last resort, loss of the licence
What the Early Applications Signal for the Broader Market
Interest has outrun forecasts. Nikkinen told Yle that 40 to 60 applications had been the earlier estimate, and even that was seen as a little optimistic. He compared the 75 applications with Sweden, which he said has 89 licences and about twice Finland's population.
The count of applications is not a count of companies: one company can file separate applications for different game types, each with its own fee, Yle noted.
Finland is not alone. Austria's Finance Ministry has drafted a law that would replace Win2Day's online casino monopoly with licences, and the Canadian province of Alberta opened its regulated online market to private operators on 13 July 2026, according to the Alberta government.
Frequently Asked Questions
On 1 July 2027, when most of the new Gambling Act takes effect. Until then Veikkaus keeps its monopoly, and no other company may run or market gambling games in Finland.
75 by 22 September 2026, up from about 50 in early June, according to figures the National Police Board gave Yle. The board had not decided on any of them at that point.
€29,000 per application in 2026, charged whether or not the licence is granted. The National Police Board's target processing time is 6 to 8 months.
The National Police Board until 30 June 2027. From 1 July 2027 the Finnish Supervisory Agency, a national authority that began work on 1 January 2026, takes over.
A lottery tax of 22% of gross gaming revenue, meaning stakes minus winnings paid out. From 1 July 2027 it applies to every gambling game offered in Finland, whether under a licence or Veikkaus's exclusive licence.
Paolo Pellegrini is Casino Adventurer's news editor, based in Rome, where he was born and raised. He covers the stories shaping the online gambling industry, from new regulations and tax changes to market openings and major deals, and always explains what they mean for players. He's naturally curious and starts every morning with the news and a strong espresso. Outside work, he's a lifelong AS Roma fan and loves cooking for friends on Sundays.
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