Finland Is Ending Its Gambling Monopoly: Here's What Changes
Finland is transitioning its state-run gambling monopoly to a licensed, competitive market for private operators starting in 2027.Summary
Finland is ending its long-standing state gambling monopoly held by Veikkaus, moving to a multi-operator system. A new Gambling Act allows private operators to apply for licenses to offer betting, online casinos, and slot machines, ending Veikkaus's exclusive rights at the close of 2026. Licensed operators are expected to launch in 2027, overseen by a new Finnish Supervisory Agency. Veikkaus retains its monopoly on lotteries and scratch cards but can also compete for a license. The reform introduces stricter consumer protections, such as age verification and self-exclusion tools. In the meantime, many Finnish players already use foreign-licensed online casinos due to EU freedom-of-services rules, giving a preview of the upcoming competitive market.
(Source：Helsinki Times)