Updated 25 August 2026. Finland is moving from its current gambling monopoly toward a licensing system. Gambling services under the new Gambling Act can begin under licence from 1 July 2027.
What changes on 1 July 2027?
Until the end of June 2027, Veikkaus Oy retains the exclusive right to organise gambling in mainland Finland. From 1 July 2027, operators holding the required Finnish gambling licence may provide covered gambling services under the new system.
The National Police Board processes gambling licence applications during the transition period. From July 2027, supervision and licensing move to the Finnish Supervisory Agency.
Licence applications
Applications for gambling licences have been possible since 1 March 2026. The Finnish Police states that the target processing time is approximately six months, although individual cases may take longer. In 2026 the application fee for a gambling licence is EUR 29,000 per application.
What players should check
From July 2027, a legal operator should display its Finnish licence number, identify the supervisory authority and show the gambling age limit. Responsible-gambling information and tools are also part of the new framework.
Official sources
- Police of Finland: Gambling
- Police of Finland: FAQ on licence applications
- Police of Finland: Illegal gambling
For Finnish-language coverage, timelines and updates, see Pelihuone’s Suomilisenssi 2027 hub.