Finland’s move toward a liberalised online gambling market has attracted significant interest from operators. The National Police Board reported that 50 companies have already submitted applications under the country’s new regulatory regime, which was introduced earlier this year. The majority of these applicants are foreign entities, presenting additional challenges for evaluation and regulatory oversight.
Juha Katainen, a senior adviser at the National Police Board, commented, “The majority of applicants are foreign companies, which increases the complexity of processing and evaluating their submissions.” Each operator is required to pay a processing fee of €29,000, which covers licences valid in 2026. Substantive review of applications only begins after this fee has been paid, ensuring that the board focuses resources on serious contenders.
Evaluation and Compliance Process
The assessment process places particular emphasis on the reliability and suitability of each applicant. Katainen explained that the board examines a variety of documents, including corporate register extracts, official certificates, and supplementary reports. The financial position of affiliated companies is also closely reviewed, as this can directly affect the applicant’s ability to fund operations. These measures aim to ensure regulatory compliance andminimise potential risks such as money laundering.
Since the iGaming law came into effect in January, some operators have expressed concerns over certain operational details. Jarkko Nordlund, head of icasino and sportsbook at Veikkaus, noted, “The law is fine. Now everyone is begging a bit, like, what are the definitions of the law? We still don’t know how we’re able to use bonusing, what advertising is allowed, what media is allowed, duty of care, player protection. Everyone is pro licensed market, but we would love to have the nitty gritty details.” In addition, speculation about a possible sale of Veikkaus has emerged, with industry consultant Jari Vähänen recently valuing the state-controlled group at €4.5 billion, encompassing both its lottery operations and physical slot businesses.
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Market Outlook and Licence Timelines
Industry sources previously predicted that around 40 to 50 licences would be issued once the liberalised market launches. Antti Koivula, chief compliance officer at Hippos ATG, highlighted concerns about potential market saturation: “It’s a rather small country to add a lot of operators into the mix.” The first licences under the new framework will take effect on 1 July 2027, after which operators that have been granted a licence will be able to commence operations. Until that time, the National Police Board remains the licensing and supervisory authority. After July 2027, oversight will transfer to the newly established Finnish Supervisory Agency.
The application process is ongoing and does not have a fixed deadline. Officials have indicated that they aim to process applications within approximately six months and have asked operators to avoid frequent status enquiries, as these can divert resources from core evaluation work. Katainen emphasised, “The best way applicants can assist is by complying fully with the submitted instructions and providing complete documentation upfront.” The National Police Board will provide updates on average processing times through its official website as information becomes available.
With liberalisation, Finland is poised to see a more diverse online gambling market, balancing domestic operators with international entrants while maintaining strict regulatory standards.
Source:
Gambling licences interest gambling operators, poliisi.fi, June 8, 2026.