Finland Confirms 12 Online Gambling Licences Ahead of 2027 Market Opening
Finland.- 5 November 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Finland is progressing towards the liberalisation of its online betting and casino market, scheduled for 1 July 2027, with the first licences awarded to private operators.
The National Police Board, currently responsible for processing applications, has confirmed the approval of 12 gambling licences, while further applications remain under review.
The reform will end the state monopoly over certain online gambling products and introduce competition between licensed operators.
First Gambling Licences Approved
The application process opened in March 2026. According to figures confirmed by the regulator on 26 October, 79 applications had been submitted and 12 licences approved, with no rejections at that time.
Companies identified among the approved operators include:
- 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
The list reflects publicly identified licence holders and may expand as further approvals are announced.
Finland to Partially End State Monopoly
State-owned Veikkaus currently holds exclusive rights over gambling activities in Finland.
From July 2027, private companies holding the appropriate licences will be permitted to compete in online betting and gaming.
However, Veikkaus will retain exclusive rights over:
- Traditional lotteries.
- Scratchcards.
- Land-based gaming machines.
The reform represents a major transformation of Finland’s gambling framework, although not every gambling category will be opened to competition.
Finnish Gambling Market Estimated at €1.9 Billion
Finland represents a significant commercial opportunity for international operators.
According to H2 Gambling Capital, the Finnish market is expected to generate approximately €1.9 billion in total gross gaming revenue (GGR) during 2026.
Meanwhile, Veikkaus reported €931 million in GGR for 2025, compared with approximately €1.8 billion in 2017.
The figures demonstrate changes in the market and the increasing importance of digital gambling services.
Channelisation Remains a Central Objective
One of the principal reasons for introducing the reform is the growth of gambling activity outside the state monopoly.
Finland’s channelisation rate is currently estimated at approximately 50%, compared with levels approaching 90% a decade ago.
This indicates that a substantial proportion of gambling activity takes place outside the nationally supervised system.
The new licensing framework aims to attract customers towards Finnish-licensed operators and strengthen consumer protection.
Wildz Group Plans 11 Brands for Finland
Wildz Group was among the first companies to publicly announce that it had secured a Finnish gambling licence.
The operator confirmed its approval in October 2026 and began preparing for the market launch.
Its strategy includes introducing 11 brands in Finland, alongside the possibility of applying for additional licences.
The plans demonstrate the level of international operator interest in the country’s new regulatory framework.
New Regulatory Authority From July 2027
The National Police Board will continue managing licence applications during the transition period.
However, when the new market opens, regulatory oversight will transfer to a newly established Supervisory Agency.
The authority will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the requirements imposed on licensed operators.
The institutional transition is intended to support the introduction of a competitive gambling market.
B2B Suppliers Will Require Licences in 2028
The reform also establishes a separate timetable for technology suppliers.
During the first year of liberalisation, licensed operators may use B2B suppliers provided they continue meeting their own regulatory obligations.
The timetable includes:
- July 2027: opening of B2B software licence applications.
- 1 July 2028: introduction of mandatory licences for suppliers providing covered B2B services to Finnish-licensed operators.
The phased implementation will give technology providers additional time to adapt to the new framework.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The first licence approvals mark an important milestone in Finland’s gambling market transformation.
The reform will introduce competition in online betting and casino gaming while preserving Veikkaus’ monopoly over selected land-based and lottery products.
With 12 licences approved, 79 applications submitted and an estimated €1.9 billion gambling market, Finland is preparing to become one of Europe’s most significant new regulated iGaming markets in 2027.
The coming months will focus on processing further applications, operator preparations and establishing the new regulatory authority.
Edited by: @fonta
