The Finnish government has approved a gambling bill, paving the way for reform of the country’s gambling market and allowing commercial operators to obtain licences. The bill has also received backing in the Finnish Parliament, where it was passed by 158 votes in favour and nine against, and is now on track for implementation. Only the President’s signature is required for the law to come into force.

The commercial market is scheduled to officially open in July 2027. Licences for sports betting and online casinos will be issued starting in March 2026. However, lotteries, Eurojackpot and physical slot machines will remain under the monopoly of the state-owned operator Veikkaus.

Initially, licensing decisions will be made by Finland’s National Police Board, with regulatory responsibilities to be transferred to the Licensing and Supervision Agency in June 2026. In addition, the process for obtaining licences for B2B operators will begin in July 2027, and holding such a licence will become mandatory for operating in the market by July of the following year.

The passage of the bill in parliament removes one of the final regulatory hurdles for commercial operators seeking access to the market.

While the adoption of the bill represents a significant step forward in opening the Finnish market, certain elements of the regulatory framework still require clarification and further refinement.

Antti Koivula, Chief Compliance Officer at Hippos ATG, told iGaming Expert that several key details within the framework remain unresolved. He stressed that these issues will be addressed once secondary legislation is adopted, which will determine aspects such as game characteristics (for example, autoplay and bonus buys), maximum stake limits, and game speed.

Secondary legislation will also provide clarity on some of the most critical technical regulations that are still outstanding. Veikkaus has likewise called on authorities to ensure that the market is regulated efficiently in order to prevent illegal operators and the black market from flourishing.

Velipekka Nummikoski, Deputy CEO of Veikkaus, stated: “It is important that the license market is attractive enough for companies to apply for a license. At the same time, it is also necessary to ensure that unauthorised supply is tackled effectively enough. 

“If unauthorised gambling supply cannot be effectively prevented, there is a risk that the realisation of the channelling goal and the reduction of gambling harm will be made more difficult.” 

Finland’s gambling market will look entirely different once the licensed market opens, moving away from the Veikkaus monopoly, whose future is currently uncertain. Recently, Veikkaus held negotiations with 75 employees across three different functions. With competition entering the market, the operator will discontinue 26 existing roles, create 22 new positions, and modify 20 employment relationships.

“Our strategic direction requires changes from us, which have now been implemented through these negotiations,” commented Reija Laaksonen, EVP, People, Brand & Communications at Veikkaus.

“These decisions are always difficult from a human perspective, but they are necessary for Veikkaus’ future competitiveness.”

In addition, Finland’s Director General of Ownership Steering, Maija Strandberg, said in November that Veikkaus could be publicly listed in 2027, placing the future of the state-owned operator in question.

Source

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