In a historic decision, the Finnish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to dismantle the country’s long-standing gambling monopoly, paving the way for a licensed, multi-operator iGaming market.
The reform bill passed in the Finnish Parliament with a decisive margin of 158–9, signalling strong cross-party support for modernizing the nation’s gambling framework. While the Opposition party had proposed stricter amendments earlier in the month, including raising the gambling age to 20 and imposing tougher marketing restrictions, these were ultimately rejected by MPs.
The new law is set to take effect in January 2026, with Jari Vähänen of Finnish Gambling Consultants confirming that operators will be able to apply for licenses starting March 1.
The primary goal of the legislation is to channel online traffic into a regulated environment. During the bill’s initial presentation, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen explained that the aim “has been to find a regulatory solution in which the regulation combating gambling harms would be balanced with the fact that gambling companies want to apply for a licence.” She emphasized that the ultimate objective is ensuring “online gambling would be directed to a regulated gaming offering.”
While the process faced delays, pushing the prospective market launch to July 2026, industry stakeholders remain largely optimistic. Joel Hakamies, General Manager for Finland and Estonia at FDJ United/Kindred, noted that despite the timeline shifts, “it’s looking fairly good for the big picture,” adding that “overall it’s been fairly positive from our view.” However, he cautioned that clarity is essential for business planning.
“For our planning it would be better if the timeline was set in stone sooner rather than later,” Hakamies admitted, noting that “uncertainty always blurs the horizon for investment.”
Meanwhile, the current monopoly holder, Veikkaus, is actively preparing to compete in the open market. Jarkko Nordlund, EVP for iCasino and sports betting at Veikkaus, expressed confidence that the operator will secure a significant market share, bolstered by heavy investments in talent and a recent platform migration to OpenBet.
