Finland moves to end gambling monopoly by 2027
The Finnish government has introduced a bill to end Veikkaus’ monopoly on iGaming by late 2026, opening the way for international companies to operate under a new licensing...
Finland to launch gambling regulations earlier than expected
Finland may bring forward the launch of its online gambling regulations, initially set for 2027, to allow horseracing betting.
Finland released the draft version of the gambling regulation back in July. At that time, the draft received criticism from industry stakeholders for being too restrictive, specifically in advertising and marketing matters. Now, the legislation is in its final stages, and the decision will be announced by the end of the year.
Before the law is sent to the European Commission for approval, a cross-party political committee will decide whether to allow an early market launch, initially set for January 2027, and whether to allow commercial operators to offer horse racing betting. This move could break the state monopoly on the sport.
Mika Kuismanen, the CEO of the Finnish Trade Association for Online Gambling, said:
“There are only two issues left where the consensus has not been reached. The opening date and whether horseracing betting be offered under the monopoly licence, or included in the open licence available to any operator in the online market. There is a chance that operators can go live in the market earlier than January 2027.”
Despite the initial criticism, the regulation faced progress. The government has engaged in productive talks with industry leaders, and some of the more restrictive measures have been softened.
Mika Kuismanen added:
“After the consultation round, the law has taken a more liberal or practical direction. We have to give credit to the civil servants and government, as they have structured the process to legislation very well, and it has proceeded in a very constructive manner.”
While there are still some concerns around the legislation, especially around the ban on third-party marketing, it is expected that it will move forward in a balanced way. The next few weeks will determine how soon Finland’s gambling industry will see these changes and how much the new regulations will reflect industry input.
FAQs
Is gambling legal in Finland?
Gambling in Finland is legal and regulated by the law.
What is the legal gambling age in Finland?
The legal gambling age in Finland is 18 years.
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