The Finnish Parliament has approved a law opening up the gambling market by a large majority. The state monopoly will end in January 2026.
Finland opts for regulated competition
The vote in the Finnish Parliament was crystal clear: 156 in favour, 9 against. This paves the way for commercial providers to enter the online gambling market. Licence applications can be submitted from March onwards.
Until now, the state-owned company Veikkaus had the exclusive right to operate games of chance in Finland. That is now changing. The new law makes room for competition, but also emphasises responsible gambling. Previous proposals for stricter measures and an increase in the minimum age were rejected.
Operators are preparing for the launch
Despite delays, providers are positive. The law still needs to be signed by the president, but this is expected to be a formality. The market will ultimately be opened up in July 2026, six months later than originally planned.
Behind the scenes, parties are preparing themselves. Former monopolist Veikkaus is building a private division to participate in the free market. International players are also ready. Joel Hakamies of FDJ/Kindred says he is ‘cautiously positive,’ although he would have preferred clarity about the planning earlier.
No debate about necessity, but about pace
The call for market liberalisation was not new. The first proposals were made as early as 2024. There was broad political agreement on the benefits of a regulated market. The debate focused mainly on the pace of implementation and the balance between commercial opportunities and player protection.
With this step, Finland joins other EU countries that have already opted for regulated competition in the gambling market. The challenge now is to create a level playing field without losing sight of the risks of excessive gambling.