Finland’s National Police Board (NPB) has intensified its crackdown on unauthorized gambling marketing, issuing a sharp increase in prohibitions and financial penalties for violations of the Lotteries Act.
Stepping up enforcement ahead of the 2027 licensing regime
As the country prepares to transition from its traditional monopoly to a competitive licensing system in July 2027, regulatory authorities are aggressively targeting illegal advertising across websites and social media platforms.
So far this year, the NPB has issued four prohibition decisions against illegal gambling marketing and ordered six conditional fines to be paid. These enforcement figures exceed previous annual levels, with a primary focus on online and social media channels. Conditional fines attached to prohibition notices have spanned from €30,000 to €200,000 for individuals, while corporate penalties have ranged between €100,000 and €1.2m.
The largest corporate penalty was levied last month against Estonian-licensed operator MagicPoro. Additionally, all six conditional fines ordered for direct payment targeted individuals with amounts between €20,000 and €100,000.
Executive commentary
Juhani Wallinvirta, head of the NPB’s Gambling Administration, stated:
“The purpose of a conditional fine is not to punish illegal activities, but to reinforce compliance with the prohibition decision and to ensure that illegal marketing actually ceases.”
The heightened regulatory scrutiny occurs as Finland prepares to end its long-standing state gambling monopoly. The new Gambling Act will take effect on July 2027, allowing commercial operators to apply for formal licences covering online casino games, slots, and various betting verticals. Each licence will require a fee of €29,000, and gaming software licences will also be introduced for suppliers. Interest in the upcoming market has outpaced initial expectations, with the NPB already receiving 75 licence applications.
