Finland’s path to liberalizing its gambling market has encountered a significant hurdle, as the nation’s Constitutional Committee has raised serious concerns regarding the government’s proposed new Gambling Act.
The bill, which aims to dismantle the country’s long-standing monopoly system and is scheduled for implementation in early 2027, has been flagged for its use of ambiguous language, particularly concerning advertising regulations.
The committee’s primary objection centers on the bill’s advertising provisions. The phrase “moderate advertising” was highlighted as a key problem area, with the committee deeming it too vague to provide the necessary legal and legislative clarity for operators and regulators.
As a result, the bill has been referred to the Administrative Committee, which is now required to formulate a more precise and workable definition of this concept.
Furthermore, the Constitutional Committee has requested the complete removal of Section 52(1)(15) from the bill, citing its language as overly broad.
Another point of emphasis of the gambling act of Finland was the need for tax laws related to professional gambling to remain precise and fully compliant with constitutional requirements.
This legislative review is taking place against a backdrop of significant change in the Finnish gambling market. The plan to move away from the current state-run monopoly, Veikkaus, was officially welcomed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) in October 2023.
A year later, it was confirmed that horseracing would be included in the new multi-license system. However, the transition has not been without controversy.
In March 2025, Swedish operator ATG accused Veikkaus of anti-competitive practices, alleging the monopoly is attempting to manipulate the market to secure a favorable position before the new act takes effect.
The progression of the Gambling Act now hinges on the Administrative Committee’s ability to implement the specified amendments and resolve the issues of legal clarity.
