When does the Finnish gambling market open? Timeline 2027

• 16 Dec 2025. Parliament approved the new Gambling Act.
• 16 Jan 2026. The President of the Republic signed the acts into law.
• 1 Mar 2026. The National Police Board started accepting gambling licence and exclusive licence applications.
• 1 Jul 2027. The Act mainly enters into force and licensed gambling can start. Licensing and supervision move to the Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto), and game software licence applications open.
• 1 Jul 2028. Supplying gambling software requires a game software licence.

• Open to licensed competition: betting, online slot and casino games, and electronic bingo.
• Veikkaus keeps the monopoly on lottery type draw games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games.
• Licences are applied for from the National Police Board, in Finnish or Swedish. The processing fee in 2026 is 29,000 euros per application.

Until the end of June 2027, only Veikkaus may run and market gambling in Finland. Without a licence in force, marketing is not allowed.

After that, licence holders may market in moderation and only in the channels the Act lists, for example their own websites, TV and radio, sports and other public events, and print media. The Act also restricts sponsorship and direct marketing and bans certain marketing methods.

• Build local partners and networks before the market opens.
• Negotiate sponsorship deals that start once your licence is in force.
• Plan marketing for the channels and methods the Act allows.
• Meet the industry: the Northern Europe Gaming Conference, produced by Sandstorm Events, takes place on 16–17 September 2027 at Messukeskus Solar, Helsinki.