Operator Interest Exceeds Expectations as Country Prepares to End Veikkaus Monopoly and Introduce a Regulated Licensing Regime
Finland has received 75 gambling licence applications as operators gear up for the opening of the country’s regulated market in July 2027, marking a level of interest that has surpassed earlier projections. According to reports from Finnish public broadcaster Yle, the National Police Board had received the applications by September 22. No licences have been approved yet, with processing times anticipated to take between six and eight months.
The upcoming legislative reform will dismantle Veikkaus’s exclusive control over a major portion of the gambling sector, permitting licensed competitors to offer online casino games and betting. However, Veikkaus will maintain exclusive rights over specific segments, including lotteries, pools, physical slot machines, and land-based casino games.
Surging Demand and Rigorous Regulatory Scrutiny
Since applications opened on March 1, interest has climbed steadily; prior figures from the National Police Board revealed that 50 submissions had already been made by June 8. The application fee for 2026 is set at €29,000, and authorities have imposed no final deadline for submissions.
Because a significant number of applicants are based outside Finland, the licensing procedure involves rigorous evaluation. Juha Katainen, senior adviser at the National Police Board, noted:
“The reliability and suitability of the applicants will be evaluated on the basis of documents, such as register extracts, certificates and various reports, submitted by the applicant.”
Market Transformation and Stakeholder Perspectives
The regulatory overhaul is designed to bring greater gambling activity under domestic supervision and mitigate harm. The National Police Board will oversee licensing through June 2027, after which supervisory responsibilities will shift to the Finnish Supervisory Agency.
National Coalition Party MP Sinuhe Wallinheimo highlighted how digitalisation has already altered the landscape:
“Digitalisation has broken up the Finnish system, and people saw that they had an opportunity to play somewhere else, so they did.”
Echoing this sentiment, Veikkaus Executive Vice President Reija Laaksonen welcomed the shift, stating that the new framework creates a level playing field where all licensed entities adhere to identical responsibility and taxation rules. Policymakers agree that achieving a high channelisation rate will be the ultimate benchmark for the model’s success.
