On December 16, 2025, the Finnish government voted with 158 in favor, 9 against, and 32 absentees to approve the new online gambling bill.The reforms will take effect...
Veikkaus adjusts leadership during Finland’s gambling reform
As Finland moves forward with its new gambling bill, Veikkaus has introduced a leadership change that adds to a period of transition for the operator.
Veikkaus deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoski will move into a new role within Finland’s state-owned gambling operator, taking on other projects under CEO Olli Sarekoski. The company said it does not plan to replace him when he steps down from his current position at the start of 2026.
Sarekoski said:
“I want to thank Nummikoski for many years of excellent work on the executive team for the benefit of Finnish gambling companies, and thereby all Finns. His contribution, for example in the creation of the new gambling law, has been extremely significant.”
Public affairs work that was part of Nummikoski’s job will be handled by Veikkaus director Tuomo Puumala.
Nummikoski said:
“Being a member of Veikkaus’ executive team has, in many ways, been the fulfilment of a dream. I have had the opportunity to be actively involved in shaping Finland’s gambling system — first through the merger of the gambling companies, and ultimately through the reform of the entire gambling system. In short, I have been able to make history. Now is a good moment to pass the baton forward, as the legislative reform is in its final stage in Parliament and a new era in Veikkaus’ business is about to begin.”
Finland’s Administrative Committee has completed its review of the country’s new multi-licensing gambling bill, marking an important step in the legislative process.
According to Hippos ATG chief compliance officer Antti Koivula, who has legal experience in the Finnish market, the Committee suggested pushing back the bill’s timeline and making some small adjustments to the marketing rules.
Opposition parties also put forward several changes, including raising the legal gambling age to 20, introducing two-factor authentication, banning bonuses entirely, and setting shared deposit and loss limits that would apply across all operators.
Finland’s Administrative Committee has called to delay the implementation of the commercial licensing gambling market until July 1, 2027, as the Licensing and Supervision...
