Finland confirms dates and processes for opening up gambling market

Finland is seeing major change take place in its gambling market, as a government-issued press release states “Veikkaus Oy’s monopoly on running gambling games will end.”

This comes as the country has agreed upon a new Gambling Act which will see the running of betting games, online slot and casino games, and online money bingo to be opened up to competition through a licensing system.

Finland to open some gambling services to competition https://t.co/uoZJbZRTDL

— Finnish Government (@FinGovernment) January 15, 2026

This has been in the works for some time now, but it was in a session on January 15 that the Government proposed the President of the Republic approve the Gambling Act on January 16.

Most of the provisions of the new act will enter into force on July 1 2027, as confirmed by the Finnish Government. The aim of the changes in the country is to prevent and reduce the harm resulting from gambling and to improve the channeling rate of the gambling system.

Finland will run a licensing system for gambling under new act

While the doors are opening, Veikkaus Oy, which is the Finnish government-owned betting agency, will keep a monopoly on lottery-type games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games.

The government has also confirmed that gambling companies can start applying for licenses, from the National Police Board, from 1 March 2026. This is when an exclusive license can be granted to a limited liability company controlled by the State of Finland which is engaged in the running of gambling games.

Once the monopoly on gambling services ends next year, with no other company able to run or market gambling games during this time, the Finnish Supervisory Agency will then take over from July 1, 2027. They will start issuing gambling software licenses.

There are strict regulations for those who eventually start to operate in Finland, along with restrictions on marketing and sponsorship and player identification requirements.

The government warns that all gambling will require mandatory identification and this will then enable self-exclusion, consumption limits, and self-monitoring.

Featured Image: Credit to Olga1969 on Wikimedia Commons, CC4.0

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