Finland To Host Consumer-Focused iGaming Festival In February 2028

Finland will host a new consumer-focused gambling exhibition in February 2028, with the inaugural iGaming Festival scheduled to take place at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre as the country transitions towards a competitive licensed gambling market.

Organised by Finnish Gaming Experts, the event will run from 4 to 6 February 2028 and is designed to connect gambling enthusiasts directly with operators, technology providers and other industry stakeholders. The festival will take place alongside the established MP Motorcycle Show, providing access to an existing exhibition audience while introducing a dedicated event for Finland's emerging gambling industry.

The launch follows Finland's decision to replace significant elements of its longstanding gambling monopoly with a regulated licensing system, scheduled to open to commercial operators in July 2027. By the time the festival takes place, the new market is expected to have been operating for approximately seven months, creating opportunities for licensed businesses to engage with Finnish consumers.

New Event Designed To Connect Players And Operators

Titti Myhrberg, CEO of Finnish Gaming Experts and producer of the iGaming Festival, said the concept had been developed in close consultation with industry stakeholders to address the absence of a comparable consumer-facing event in Finland.

“There has not previously been a similar forum where players and companies in the industry can meet face to face, but there is clearly demand for one,” Myhrberg explained.

“After decades of a monopoly-based gambling market, Finland is entering a new era, and we believe there is a genuine need for an event that brings together players, operators and industry experts in one place.”

The exhibition will welcome both consumers and industry participants, providing a meeting point for gambling companies, service providers and members of the public interested in the sector. Unlike many established iGaming conferences, which primarily target business-to-business audiences, the Helsinki festival will place direct interaction between operators and consumers at the centre of its offering.

Satu Papadopoulos, Business Manager at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, welcomed the introduction of the event, describing it as an opportunity to establish a new meeting place for the gambling industry. Organisers have confirmed that the festival will be restricted to visitors aged 18 and over, with planning taking account of the gambling legislation and official guidance applicable when the event takes place.

Responsible Gambling To Feature In Festival Programme

Responsible gambling will form part of the festival's programme, with organisers planning a dedicated stage covering player protection and related topics. The inclusion reflects the regulatory considerations associated with holding a consumer-facing gambling exhibition in Finland's newly liberalised market.

The event's final arrangements will be developed in accordance with the rules governing gambling advertising, consumer engagement and responsible gambling at the time. This will be particularly relevant as Finland implements its new licensing framework, which will establish requirements for commercial operators entering the market.

The festival will also include an awards gala on 3 February 2028, one day before the public exhibition opens. The ceremony is planned for Solar, a new event venue at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre scheduled to open in August 2027.

Solar is being developed as a modern exhibition and events space, with organisers intending to use the venue to host the festival's inaugural awards programme. Further details of the award categories, eligibility requirements and participating companies have not yet been announced.

Festival To Run Alongside Nordic Motorcycle Exhibition

The iGaming Festival will coincide with the MP Motorcycle Show, one of the Nordic region's largest motorcycle exhibitions, which attracts more than 50,000 visitors annually. Admission to the gambling festival will also include access to the motorcycle show, allowing visitors to attend both events during the same weekend.

The arrangement provides the new festival with an established exhibition setting and the potential to reach audiences beyond the traditional gambling industry. However, the organisers have not disclosed projected attendance figures specifically for the iGaming Festival or confirmed which gambling operators will participate.

The timing is significant for Finland's gambling sector, with the country's new licensing system expected to introduce greater competition in online casino gaming and sports betting from July 2027. The reform will allow qualifying commercial operators to enter a market historically dominated by state-owned Veikkaus, subject to the new regulatory requirements.

Scheduled for February 2028, the iGaming Festival will be among the first major consumer-focused gambling exhibitions planned for Finland's post-monopoly era. Its organisers intend to establish a recurring forum for engagement between players and businesses as the country's regulated market develops.