Finnish state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus has reported a return to growth in the first half of 2026, with sales revenue reaching €471.3 million, up 1% year-on-year from €466.4 million.
Net profit also increased by 2% to €234.2 million, compared with €229.6 million in H1 2025. The company said its digital channels were behind much of the growth, with 64.5% of total gross gaming revenue (GGR) coming from digital channels, up 3.6% year-on-year.
Betting and iCasino GGR rose from €146.5 million to €151.6 million, while digital-only GGR in these segments grew by 5%. Lottery and land-based gaming remained Veikkaus’ biggest business area, generating €317.9 million in GGR, and digital lottery GGR increased by 9.1%.
Veikkaus CEO Olli Sarekoski commented:
“It is great to see that our investments in digital business and technical capabilities are delivering results. It is a natural step for us to be involved in the industry’s advocacy together with other key operators. We want to do our part to strengthen this advocacy, and cooperation is crucial for ensuring the functionality of the future system.”
The results come as Veikkaus prepares for Finland’s new gambling market, which will open to licensed operators on July 1, 2027. The company will lose its monopoly over betting and online casino, while retaining exclusive rights to lottery products, scratch cards, physical slot machines, and land-based table games.
Veikkaus will pay around €1 billion over 10 years for its exclusive lottery license, with most of the compensation expected to be paid upfront in 2026. The operator has also split its business into two subsidiaries, covering the lottery monopoly and the future competitive market.
Its B2B arm, Fennica Gaming, also reported strong growth, where revenue increased by 80.6% to €10.3 million and the business expanded in 21 markets.
