Veikkaus Welcomes Approval of Finland’s Multi-Licensing Gambling Framework
On Tuesday, December 16, the Finnish Parliament advanced the bill, which opens the market to licensed commercial operators.
Finland’s state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus has welcomed the approval of the country’s new multi-licensing regulations, marking a significant step towards the transition to a commercial gambling market.
On Tuesday, December 16, the Finnish Parliament advanced the bill, which opens the market to licensed commercial operators. The legislation now requires only the president’s signature, a formality expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Under the proposed timeline, the application window for B2C licences will open on 1 March 2026, ahead of the market’s official launch on 1 July 2027. The B2B licence application window will also open on 1 July 2027, with B2B licences becoming mandatory from 1 July 2028.
Commenting on the development, Veikkaus deputy CEO Velipekka Nummikoski said: “We have been waiting for a model that improves the ability to channel gambling into licensed offerings.
“Veikkaus has not truly had a monopoly on gambling in Finland for quite some time. According to various estimates, as much as €600–900m per year is gambled outside the official system.”
As part of the reforms, supervision of the gambling sector will move from the National Police Board to a newly established Licensing and Supervisory Authority.
“It is important that the licensing market is attractive enough for companies to apply for licences,” Nummikoski added. “At the same time, it must be ensured that illegal offerings are addressed effectively. If unlicensed gambling cannot be prevented efficiently, there is a risk that the channelling objective and the reduction of gambling harms will be undermined.”
The changes represent a major shift in Finland’s gambling landscape, with the new framework designed to balance market openness, effective oversight and player protection.
