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⚠ Some figures here are still settling — medium confidence. Verify against the primary regulator before relying on them.

Finland currently operates a state gambling monopoly: Veikkaus Oy, wholly state-owned, holds the exclusive right to offer gambling in mainland Finland under the Lotteries Act (1047/2001), supervised by the Gambling Administration of the National Police Board (Poliisihallitus) under the Ministry of the Interior. Since October 2023 the government has been reforming the system with a new Gambling Act that will open fixed-odds betting, pari-mutuel betting, online casino games, online bingo and online slots to competitive licensing. On the current plan, B2C licence applications open in early 2026, licensed operators may go live from 1 January 2027, B2B licensing follows in 2027, and from 2028 licensed operators must use only licensed B2B suppliers. Veikkaus retains a monopoly on lotteries, scratch cards and physical slot machines/land-based games, and gambling supervision is to move to a new dedicated authority. Licences are proposed for up to five years with annual review. Because the reform is still being finalised, confidence is medium.

Tax

Gross gaming revenue (GGR)

12% lottery tax (arpajaisvero) on Veikkaus; gambling tax on licensees to be finalised

Under the monopoly Veikkaus pays a 12% lottery tax on GGR. The reform will introduce a gambling tax on licensed operators (rate not yet final; figures in the low-20s % of GGR have been discussed). Medium confidence - mid-reform.

Key facts
Licence termProposed up to 5 years (from 2027) with annual review; currently an open-ended statutory monopoly
Regime since2017
Key-person licencesTo be defined by the new Gambling Act; under the current monopoly Veikkaus is state-owned with a state-appointed board rather than personally licensed key individuals.
Player funds & identified playmandatory identified play on Veikkaus gamesstrong ID and account-based play
National self-exclusionVeikkaus self-exclusion; national register planneda cross-operator self-exclusion register is planned under the reform
Age & identity verificationminimum age 18; KYC requiredage and identity checks before play
Advertisingmarketing restricted; to be re-regulatednew advertising rules to accompany the licensing regime
Limitsmandatory loss/spending limitscompulsory limits on Veikkaus online games
Licence types
Current: Veikkaus Oy exclusive monopoly (all gambling)From 2026-2027: B2C online licence - fixed-odds betting, pari-mutuel betting, online casino, online bingo, online slotsFrom 2027: B2B licence - game suppliersRetained Veikkaus monopoly: lotteries, scratch cards, physical slot machines
Fees
B2C / B2B licence feesto be set by the new Gambling Actreform still being finalised (target market opening 2027)
Current monopolyno operator licence feeVeikkaus is a single 100% state-owned operator
Change-watch
2023

Government launched the reform to move from Veikkaus monopoly to a partial licensing system (October 2023)

2024

Draft Gambling Act published (July 2024); products to be opened and supervisory-authority changes set out

2026

B2C licence applications planned to open in early 2026

2027

Licensed online market planned to open 1 January 2027 (betting, casino, bingo, slots); B2B licensing begins

Related terms
gambling monopolyggrself exclusionlicence jurisdictionresponsible gambling
Sources
Poliisihallitus (National Police Board) - Gambling Administrationpoliisi.fi
Ministry of the Interior of Finland - gamblingintermin.fi
ICLG - Gambling Laws and Regulations: Finlandiclg.com

Not legal or tax advice. This is a teaching summary; confirm every figure against the primary regulator (National Police Board - Gambling Administration (Poliisihallitus / Arpajaishallinto)) before relying on it.

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