What changes for players in Finland on 1 July 2027

Finland's new Gambling Act (10/2026) takes effect on 1 July 2027. Betting, online slot and casino games and online bingo open to competition. Companies with a Finnish gambling licence may offer them. Veikkaus keeps the exclusive right to lottery-type draw games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games. The main changes for players: all gambling needs identification, one central self-exclusion covers every licence holder, bonuses are restricted, and affiliate and influencer marketing are banned. The age limit stays at 18.

Suomeksi

Licences: who applied and who got one

Betting, online slot and casino games and online bingo open to competition. Companies with a Finnish gambling licence may offer them. (source: Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior) · Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

The National Police Board had received 75 licence applications by 22 September 2026. National Police Board figure given to Yle. One company can file more than one application, so the number of companies can be smaller. The National Police Board has not published any licence decision. The National Police Board does not publish the names of applicants, so the list below shows the companies with a public source for their application or licence. (source: Yle Urheilu)

All applicants, their owners and the timeline: Finland gambling licences →

A gambling licence is granted for up to five years. Veikkaus's exclusive licence is always granted for ten years. (source: Poliisi (National Police Board) · Borenius Attorneys)

Lottery tax of 22%

Licence holders pay a lottery tax of 22% of their gaming margin: stakes minus winnings. (source: Verohallinto (Finnish Tax Administration) · Hannes Snellman)

The gambling company calculates, reports and pays the lottery tax itself. (source: Verohallinto (Finnish Tax Administration))

Bonuses and marketing

Free games, discounted games and combined offers are banned. A licence holder may give a moderate amount of bonus money only within an established customer relationship and on equal terms for all customers. A bonus may not depend on time played or money played, and it cannot be changed directly into cash. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

The wagering requirement on bonus money may be at most five times the bonus. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

Marketing must be moderate. The Act lists the allowed channels: the company's own website and its own social media accounts without interaction with consumers, TV and radio, sports and other public events, print media, gaming outlets, outdoor ads and search ads on the company's own keywords. All other gambling marketing is banned, so affiliate marketing and influencer marketing are banned too. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior) · Borenius Attorneys)

Direct marketing needs the player's explicit consent. Telephone marketing is banned. Marketing may not target a player who has blocked all their play or has not played the company's games for two years. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Borenius Attorneys)

Central self-exclusion and deposit limits

One central self-exclusion system covers all licensed companies. An open-ended exclusion lasts at least one year. Each company must also offer its own exclusions and limits. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior) · Borenius Attorneys)

At each company, the player must set a limit on how much money they can move to their player account per day and per month. A lower limit applies at once; a higher limit only from the next day or the start of the next month. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior))

Companies have a duty of care: they must monitor play and spot risks. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Borenius Attorneys)

Does self-exclusion cover sister sites? →

Strong identification

Registering as a player needs strong identification, and all gambling needs identification. Identification makes self-exclusion, deposit limits and tracking your own play possible. (source: Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior) · Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Borenius Attorneys)

The age limit stays at 18. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior))

Unlicensed sites: payment blocks and removal orders

Organising or marketing gambling in Finland without a licence is not allowed. (source: Poliisi (National Police Board) · Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Poliisi (Poliisihallitus))

Under the current Lotteries Act, the National Police Board orders payment blocks: banks must block players' payments to foreign gambling companies that are banned from marketing gambling in Finland. At the start of 2023 the blocks covered at least Nordic Tech Services N.V. and Viking Technology N.V. MTV Uutiset says BML Group is blocked too. (source: Poliisi (Poliisihallitus) · MTV Uutiset)

Under the new Act, the supervisory authority can order online content that offers or markets unlicensed gambling to be removed. It can also order a domain name to be removed from the domain register. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

The games Veikkaus keeps

Veikkaus keeps the exclusive right to lottery-type draw games, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casino games. (source: Sisäministeriö (Ministry of the Interior) · MTV Uutiset)

Veikkaus has applied for a licence both for its exclusive games and for the competitive market. In May 2026 it set up two subsidiaries for this. (source: World Casino Directory News)

The new authority: the Finnish Supervisory Agency

The National Police Board grants licences and supervises gambling until the end of June 2027. From July 2027 the Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) takes over. (source: Poliisi (Poliisihallitus) · Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

The supervisory authority must keep a public online list of licence holders. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

Gambling software suppliers need their own software licence (B2B). They can apply from 1 July 2027. From 1 July 2028, licence holders may only use software from licensed suppliers. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö) · Poliisi (National Police Board) · Borenius Attorneys)

Players of MGA, Estonian and Curaçao sites

From July 2027, only companies with a Finnish exclusive licence or gambling licence may sell, market and offer gambling in Finland. This applies online and at physical locations. (source: Poliisi (National Police Board) · Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

A licence from another EU or EEA country does not give a Finnish licence automatically. The authority assesses each application under the Finnish Gambling Act. (source: Poliisi (National Police Board))

The bans on unlicensed gambling also cover games played with crypto-assets or with crypto-asset prizes. (source: Finlex (oikeusministeriö))

How to check who owns a casino and its licence →

Where to get help

Peluuri's help line 0800 100 101 is free, and you can call without giving your name. It is open Monday to Friday 12–18, the chat 12–15. (source: Peluuri)

peluuri.fi · 0800 100 101

Questions and answers

When does the new Finnish Gambling Act take effect?

The new Gambling Act (10/2026) takes effect on 1 July 2027. Parliament passed it on 16 December 2025. The President confirmed it on 16 January 2026. Licence applications have been accepted since 1 March 2026.

What changes if I play at a site with an MGA, Estonian or Curaçao licence?

From July 2027, only companies with a Finnish exclusive licence or gambling licence may sell, market and offer gambling in Finland. This applies online and at physical locations. A licence from another EU or EEA country does not give a Finnish licence automatically. The authority assesses each application under the Finnish Gambling Act. Central self-exclusion, deposit limits and the duty of care apply to Finnish licence holders. Under the new Act, the supervisory authority can order online content that offers or markets unlicensed gambling to be removed.

Are affiliate and influencer marketing banned?

Marketing must be moderate. The Act lists the allowed channels: the company's own website and its own social media accounts without interaction with consumers, TV and radio, sports and other public events, print media, gaming outlets, outdoor ads and search ads on the company's own keywords. All other gambling marketing is banned, so affiliate marketing and influencer marketing are banned too.

Can a gambling company give bonuses under the new Act?

Free games, discounted games and combined offers are banned. A licence holder may give a moderate amount of bonus money only within an established customer relationship and on equal terms for all customers. A bonus may not depend on time played or money played, and it cannot be changed directly into cash. The wagering requirement on bonus money may be at most five times the bonus.

How does central self-exclusion work?

One central self-exclusion system covers all licensed companies. An open-ended exclusion lasts at least one year. Each company must also offer its own exclusions and limits.

How much lottery tax is paid, and who pays it?

Licence holders pay a lottery tax of 22% of their gaming margin: stakes minus winnings. The gambling company calculates, reports and pays the lottery tax itself.

Where can I get help with a gambling problem?

Peluuri's help line 0800 100 101 is free, and you can call without giving your name. It is open Monday to Friday 12–18, the chat 12–15.

Sources

Related: Finland gambling licences · self-exclusion and sister sites · how to check a casino · what a casino licence means · all guides.

Last checked 25 October 2026. This page says what the law says. It is not legal advice. How we check facts.