What’s Happening with Finland’s New Casino License now 2026?

Finland’s gambling licence reform is progressing, though slightly slower than originally planned, and the country’s gambling monopoly (named Veikkaus) is currently expected to end on July 1st, 2027. The new licensing system will open the market to competition, allowing private and international gambling operators to offer their services to Finnish players under a Finnish licence. More than 20 licence applications have already been submitted, and experts estimate that the number of applicants could rise to as many as 50 operators before the market officially opens.

What Is Finland’s Gambling Licence and Why Is It Relevant?

In practice, Finland’s gambling licence means moving away from the current Veikkaus monopoly model to a system where private casino operators can apply for permission to offer online gambling services to Finnish players. This is far from a minor adjustment; it represents the biggest reform of Finnish gambling legislation in decades.

The topic has attracted significant attention because the government’s proposal to reform the Lotteries Act is currently being processed by Parliament. This is no longer just political discussion or a distant proposal, the reform process is already underway.

The Current Situation: Veikkaus’ Monopoly

At present, Veikkaus still holds the exclusive right to operate gambling services in Finland. This means that no private operator can legally market gambling services to Finnish consumers, even though playing at foreign online casinos remains completely legal for Finnish players.

The monopoly system has faced criticism for years. As early as 2022, Veikkaus’ share of Finland’s digital gambling market fell below 50%, as increasing numbers of Finnish players moved to tax-free online casinos operating under MGA and EMTA licences. The European Union has also placed pressure on Finland, as the monopoly model can be difficult to reconcile with the EU principle of free movement of services.

Why Is Finland Considering a Licensing Model?

There are several practical reasons behind the change. The so called grey market has grown significantly, with Finnish players spending billions of euros annually at foreign online casinos. As a result, Finland misses out on substantial potential tax revenues. A domestic licensing model would allow the state to capture part of this money.

Player protection is another major argument. When players use unlicensed or foreign gambling sites, Finnish authorities have little direct oversight. A national licensing framework could provide stronger regulatory control and enhanced consumer safeguards.

Delays Are Still Possible

Legislative reforms often take longer than expected, and implementing an entirely new licensing system is a big undertaking. Establishing a new supervisory authority, processing licence applications, and building the necessary regulatory infrastructure all require time.

As a result, delays remain possible. While the current target date is July 2027, the final timeline will depend on how smoothly the legislative and implementation processes proceed.

The Future of Casino Bonuses

The future of casino bonuses has been one of the most discussed aspects of the proposed reform from the player’s perspective. Early discussions suggested that bonuses could be banned altogether, but according to the latest information, bonuses are likely to remain permitted, at least in some more restricted form.

How Did the Reform Progress During 2025?

The government’s proposal for a comprehensive overhaul of Finland’s gambling legislation was submitted to Parliament in spring 2025. By June 2025, the proposal had advanced through committee review, and most consultation rounds had been completed.

The government’s original objective was to introduce the new licensing system in 2026. However, the process has taken longer than expected, and the target implementation date has since been moved to July 2027.

Gambling Act Reform – The Key Proposed Changes

The central idea behind the reform is straightforward: private operators will be able to apply for a Finnish gambling licence and legally offer online casino games and sports betting to Finnish consumers.

Veikkaus will continue to retain exclusive rights to certain gambling products, including physical casinos, scratch cards, and lottery style games.

Can Foreign Casinos Apply for a Finnish Licence?

Yes—and this is one of the key principles behind the entire reform.

The Finnish gambling licence system is intended not only for Finnish companies but also for international operators. Both B2B and B2C licences are expected to be available, with licences granted for periods of up to five years.

In practical terms, this means that many well known MGA and EMTA licensed casinos could apply for a Finnish licence and continue operating legally in the Finnish market.

How many operators ultimately choose to apply will depend largely on how attractive the final combination of licensing costs, taxation, and regulatory requirements proves to be. The estimation is that on 2027 there will be around 50 operators entering the Finnish market.

Conclusion

In June 2025, Finland’s gambling law reform was actively progressing through Parliament. As of June 2026, the most realistic estimate for the introduction of Finland’s new gambling licence system is summer 2027, although delays remain possible.

For players, the most important takeaway is that playing at foreign online casinos is expected to remain legal even after the reform. At the same time, many well known international operators are likely to apply for Finnish licences in order to continue serving the market directly.

Industry experts estimate that by the time the market opens, Finland could have around 50 licensed gambling operators, creating the country’s most competitive regulated gambling environment in modern history.